DEP Photo Column — Some of Earth’s Mysteries — Prompt IV

What do you see, when you look at me?

Nature is mysterious as it’s amazing. Look at the two above. The beautiful flower is the yellow passion fruit blossom. Other countries have the purple fruit, but in Jamaica, we have the yellow ones. Yes, it grows from left to right. How? How is this possible? It grows wild across Jamaica and is used to make juices. My favorite is the passion pineapple drink with ginger.

How did this happen?

Passion fruit is an exotic purple fruit that can be a healthful addition to a balanced diet. Passion fruit may offer numerous health benefits as it contains high levels of key vitamins and minerals and is rich in antioxidants.

The Nase-berry blossom is to the left. The fruit to the right. These fruits are so delicious, that birds live on this fruit so we can’t pick Nase-berry when they are ripe. We have to pick them when they are fit. Birds know when they are ripe as you can hear them enjoying their feast in the trees. They warn us that it’s time to pick.

How did Nature do this?

The Naseberry is so much more than just a fruit. The official name is Sapodilla/Sapota but the fruit is known as Naseberry to Jamaicans and those in the Caribbean. The flesh is deliciously sweet, contains electrolytes and antioxidants, aids in collagen production, and has many health benefits. Millions of visitors to Jamaica encounter the Naseberry for the first time. Here are 11 Amazing Benefits of Naseberry that you Should Know:

This is the pomegranate fruit that grows wild across Jamaica. It’s delicious when ripe. Look at the orange/red bell-like blossom. How did it turn into the fruit to the right?

Can humans create something so nutritious, yet amazing?

Pomegranates have exploded in popularity in recent years and it’s due to their ever-growing list of amazing health benefits. Rich in nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin E, magnesium, potassium, and antioxidants, pomegranates defend against free radicals, soothe irritated tissue, and promote healthy aging. Best of all, pomegranates are as delicious as they are nutritious. Let’s look at some of the incredible health benefits of pomegranates.

This is Sorrell from the Hibiscus Family. Below are the three stages. It’s a Jamaican Christmas drink that is available all year now. This plant is in my backyard. I can brew it as tea with ginger. At Christmas time sorrel is brewed with ginger and dried orange peel. Then sit for 24 hours. Sweeten with brown sugar. Jamaica fruit wine and white rum are added to it to make a delicious drink. Alcohol is a choice. We don’t put it in for the children. Every Jamaican has their own rescipe for this drink.

How can something so beautiful turn into this, plus so healthy for us?

Sorrel’s high vitamin A and vitamin C content makes it excellent for the immune system, which means it can benefit cancer, among other immune-based ailments. The variety of sorrel known as sheep sorrel is one of four ingredients in the herbal cancer treatment, Essiac tea. Sheep sorrel has been known for over a hundred years as a cancer-fighting herb and is believed to be “the main cancer-killing herb” in Essiac.

My biggest success is my sweet-sop tree. I planted it myself and watched it grow to feed birds, ants, and humans. Yes, I measure my success by planting a tree that feeds humanity. The blossom is the first image to the left.

Sugar apple a.k.a. Sweetsop is an excellent source of essential minerals and vitamins that are needed for the healthy functioning of our bodies and these include; carbohydrates, dietary fiber, protein, thiamine (B1), zinc, riboflavin (B2), potassium, niacin (B3), phosphorus, pantothenic acid (B5), manganese, calcium, vitamin B6, folate (B9), vitamin C, iron and magnesium.

This sweetsop or sugar apple as it is known in other Caribbean countries is ready to eat. The pods are open wider and are yellow.

All of these fruits grow wild across Jamaica making us super healthy and strong. Nature is amazing and so kind to humanity.

I have lots more coming up that will shock you!

If your heart could speak, what would it say?

Mine would say, “It’s time for humanity to be kinder to nature, earth and each other!”

While on your nature walk, find some amazing creations of Earth or Nature that will shock humanity. Write about it in the form of poetry, or a story, or show how it influences you just by how it looks. Be creative, and innovative, remove limits and boundaries from your imagination. Educate, entertain, and uplift through photographs. Show our world how beautiful Earth is. Then maybe, humanity might change and start to show earth more love. Earth

If a picture says a thousand words, then your smile when you look at these images, will tell the whole story.

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Thank you for reading this piece. Please, let your heart speak, while enjoying more from some inspiring writers on this platform whose links are below.

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