One of these things is not like the other…

Summary

The author discovered an elderly Chinese man's clever method of hiding a large gourd under pine branches to protect it, while photographing a neighborhood gourd patch.

Abstract

While on a neighborhood walk, the author, Barb Dalton, was captivated by the sight of yellow flowers and large leaves in a gourd patch. Initially, the presence of pine branches among the plants seemed out of place, but curiosity led to a serendipitous encounter with an elderly Chinese man tending to the patch. Despite a language barrier, they communicated through gestures, and he proudly revealed a massive gourd hidden beneath the pine leaves. This clever camouflage was his strategy to safeguard the gourd, which had successfully deceived the author. The author expressed hope that the man would enjoy the fruits of his laborious and innovative efforts.

Opinions

The author was initially unaware of the significance of the pine branches protruding from the fence.
The elderly man was excited and proud to share his gourd patch with someone who appreciated it.
The author was pleasantly surprised by the discovery of the hidden ginormous gourd.
The author admires the ingenuity of the man's method to protect his prized gourd.
There is an underlying respect and appreciation for the elderly man's work and the cultural exchange that occurred during the encounter.

One of these things is not like the other…

I photographed this gourd patch last week when on my neighbourhood walk. I was attracted to the beautiful yellow flowers sprouting from the vegetables and some massive leaves.

I noticed pine branches protruding from the fence in several places; I thought they were out of place but didn’t dwell on the anomaly.

Hearing rustling on the other side of the vine, I was somewhat embarrassed to see an elderly man watching me. He was Chinese and couldn’t speak English, so we communicated with gestures. He seemed excited to have someone photographing his prized patch.

He pointed out some beautiful gourds I hadn’t seen and lifted one of the pine leaves. Hidden underneath was a ginormous gourd.

What a clever way to disguise their presence.

It certainly fooled me!

I hope he gets to taste the fruits of his labour.