On yesterday morning’s power walk, I happened to look up into a tree as I was briskly walking by, and saw what appeared to be a cluster of green lemons.
I don’t often stop during the power walking phase of my exercise because I like to maintain the cardio aspect. Even brief stops tend to impact that.
This time, curiosity won out over the desire to maintain my pace.
As I looked closer, I realized that the size and shape of the fruits, as well as the foliage and the tree trunk indicated that these were definitely not lemons. They were a tropical fruit I’d never seen before.
I snapped the photo, and later posted it to FaceBook, knowing that my cousin, who lived in South Africa for many years, and a good friend in northern Australia would both help because of their familiarity with tropical plants. I wasn’t wrong. Within minutes of my posting, both of them identified the fruit as paw-paws.
Now I had heard of paw-paws before, through a song we sang in elementary school, but we just sang the song and were never taught what it was we were singing about. I had also completely forgotten about the song until yesterday. How wonderful, that 60 or more years later, a childhood memory resurfaced for the first time and I accidentally discovered what it was that we were singing about all those years ago!
“Pickin’ up paw-paws, puttin’ ’em in her pockets,
Pickin’ up paw-paws, puttin’ ’em in her pockets,
Pickin’ up paw-paws, puttin’ ’em in her pockets,
Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch.”
Traditional Folk Song
I read that people eat paw paws. To my knowledge, I never have. But are you going to try a paw paws? Interesting how they grow! Have a good day!
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My cousin says they have a nicer taste than papayas. I may try one, just to say I have. Have a great Thursday, Betty!
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