the winter melon that brought back my childhood

I never thought I’d see a winter melon this size outside my grandmother’s old garden. Back then, we’d gather as a family every fall, hands sticky with dirt, proud of every harvest. Now, decades later, I find myself standing in my own North American backyard, marveling at a winter melon that’s outgrown anything I remember from my youth—and it’s still growing! It’s funny how times change. My neighbors, who prefer neat lawns and ornamental shrubs, often raise their eyebrows at my sprawling vines. Some say these traditional crops look messy, not fitting in with our community’s tidy image. But to me, every inch of this melon is a reminder of family, heritage, and the healing power of working with the earth. This year’s strange weather—late frosts, sudden heat waves—made me doubt if anything would thrive. Yet here it is, a living contradiction: old-world gardening thriving in a new world, despite the odds. Some folks chase picture-perfect gardens, but I’ll take the wild, unpredictable beauty of a melon that refuses to stop growing. I wonder, do we lose something when we trade tradition for modern convenience? Or is there room for both, even if it means a few sideways glances from the HOA? #wintermelon #gardeningmemories #traditionvsmodern #Gardening