UPDATE: There was great surprise when these cute miniature watermelon looking things were discovered in the vegetable garden. The two of us scratching our heads. What in the world could these be? I immediately put on my detective hat and began digging through the vast world of the Internet. I thought I found the answer and wrote and published the article you have seen, on September 29, 2021.
But there was more to be uncovered, more to be remembered. Several days after I wrote my article on what I believed to be the native plant, Creeping Cucumber (Melothria pendula), which I figured had magically appeared in the garden as natives often do, he had a recollection. Turns out, several weeks before, he found a diminutive plant labeled “Mexican Sour Gherkin” at the Greene Farmer’s Market. He bought it, brought it home and planted it in the vegetable garden. Not giving it much thought beyond the planting and nary a word to me. He had no idea what the plant would look like. What the plant would produce. But it quietly grew, unbeknownst to either of us. Then the discovery of a mystery. Until today. The meeting of minds. The sharing of thoughts. Realization.
The scientific name for Mexican Sour Gherkin is Melothria scabra. A plant nearly identical to the plant I thought we had. Mexican Sour Gherkin is native from Mexico to Venezuela. AND there is no worry about its edibility. We can now enjoy these tiny watermelon looking things with no concern at all.
and that’s how we discover adaptable exotics
And she said to the stranger, “Hey BUD, you’re not from around here, are you??”
Ken, thanks bunches for reading my posts!
Bren