The Dragon Is Alive And Kicking !!!!! (Cont'd)

21 March 2012

This was the flower early yesterday morning in its full glory. It only lasts one day and it had its day of fame and, by late afternoon, had done the job that it has been designed for.
As the flower slowly wilts away, the fruit behind it is gradually forming. I am an impatient type as well as curious and each day I see it, it just doesn't seem to grow fast enough for me.

21 March 2012 Late PM

As you can see, by late afternoon the flower has seen better days (or a better day!!!), has done its job and is wilting. The nourishment from the flower will now travel to the fruit to allow it to develop.

26 March 2012

Now, five days later, the poor flower is looking decidedly sickly. But the fruit is looking healthy and is very, very slowly developing. (I think). I didn't see any bugs or insects flitting around the flower when it was in full bloom, so I hope that some well-intentioned flying or crawling insect has done the necessary to pollinate the flower, which, in turn, will give us one lovely pink and flavoursome Dragon Fruit.

31 March 2012

I think that the flower has really run its course. It is now really looking sick, but the fruit is surely developing behind it, so I think that it has done its job.
Its only a matter of waiting now for the fruit to fully develop, then we will be rewarded with a juicy and vitamin filled Pearl Dragon Fruit.

Now I know why these are called Dragon Fruit. The way the fruit develops definitely reminds me of  those tales I read when I was young about the daring knights and the slaying of dragons. The covering of the fruit looks very much like the head of a dragon with those spikes like the bony protuberances depicted in drawings of these mythical creatures.

5 April 2012

 Being the impatient being that I am, this fruit just can't ripen quickly enough for me!! But, as the old adage goes ...... "Patience is a virtue"!!! Maybe I am just not virtuous enough.

Stay tuned for the conclusion of this slow but (I hope) interesting development.

'The Dragon Is Alive And Kicking !!! - CONCLUSION"