Seed To Seedling

Avocados, a fruit, not best loved or the choice of many, was seldom on my shopping list, until a few years ago . Though packed with goodness, its popularity came rather late, but soon after, avocados dominated the health food market, and started appearing on my weekly list.

Though seasonal, butter fruit grows rather easily, in the South of our country, yet not so special with most, as it is pretty much an acquired taste. Present mostly in Mexican cuisine, it was not until the introduction of multicultural culinary, that avocados were introduced in gourmet meals, as dips, salads and the famous guacamole, which started to grace our tables.

Then in the early part of the century, she became the queen of the market, much sought after, for it is said, an avocado a day, can keep the doctor away. So it was, that in the year before the pandemic, I chose to plant avocado seeds, in small little pots. Not really expecting it to germinate, it was a pleasant surprise to see, first a small shoot, then a couple of leaves and very soon, little avocado seedlings.

Growing in leaps and bounds, soon they were healthy saplings. As the pots could hold them no longer, they were transferred to the ground. Lining our short drive, they stood, and we prayed they would survive. Three summers later and we have young trees, their boughs laden with the golden fruit, for our pleasure.

Oh, what joy it is, to witness this great miracle, avocados sprouted from a seed. Watching them grow from seed to seedlings, to little saplings, to young plants, to trees, yielding the very best fruits, a triumph like none other. The Greek proverb says , “A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.” Am I not then the most fortunate , to be able to reap the harvest of that which I sowed, to taste the fruit of my labour, and in whose shade I can sit ?