waiting up for my first dragonfruit bloom

Last night, I found myself sitting by the window, just like my mother used to, waiting for the rare dragonfruit flower to open. It reminded me of summer nights from my childhood, when gardening was more about patience than instant results. Back then, we’d gather as a family, sharing stories under the stars, watching the garden change with the seasons. Now, things feel different. My neighbors prefer quick-growing, low-maintenance plants—succulents and artificial turf, all neat and tidy. They say it’s more practical for our unpredictable North American weather. But I miss the wildness, the anticipation, and the joy of nurturing something unusual, like this dragonfruit, even if it means staying up late for a single bloom. Some in our community think these exotic plants don’t belong here, that they disrupt the look of our traditional gardens. Others argue that trying new things keeps our neighborhoods vibrant and alive. It’s a tug-of-war between honoring old ways and embracing new ones, between respecting local climate and pushing the boundaries of what we can grow. As I watched the flower finally open—delicate, luminous, gone by morning—I wondered: Are we losing something precious in our rush for convenience? Or is it time to let go of old habits and welcome change, even if it stirs up a little controversy? #dragonfruitbloom #gardeningmemories #traditionvschange #Gardening