Posted on 08/03/2021 10:40:54 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
Observed annually on August 3.
Popular during the summer, especially at cookouts and picnics, watermelon is celebrated today with National Watermelon Day. There are over 1,200 varieties of watermelon. In the Western Hemisphere, it is grown in the United States, Mexico, Central America—particularly in Guatemala and Costa Rica—and South America. More than 30 states in the United States grow watermelon, the leading ones being Florida, Texas, California, Georgia, and Indiana. Watermelon is available year-round in the United States because of supply from south of the border.
Watermelon is usually considered to be a fruit and eaten as one, but it can also be considered to be a vegetable and eaten as such. Its scientific name is citrullus lanatus, and it is a member of the cucurbitaceae gourd family along with cucumbers, pumpkins, squash, and some melons. Red and pink watermelon may be the most common, but it can also be white, yellow, and orange. It comes in various sizes, with or without seeds. Seedless watermelon, invented in the twentieth century, has few or no mature, black seeds. Seedless watermelon may appear to have white seeds, but these are not seeds, just empty seed coats where seeds didn't develop.
The first watermelons were harvested in ancient Egypt in around 3,000 BC. Watermelons are displayed in Egypt hieroglyphics from the time and were placed in the tombs of pharaohs to provide them nourishment for the afterlife. It wasn't until about 1615 AD that the term "watermelon" first appeared in the English dictionary.
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I also love watermelon. But I don’t seem to be too good at picking the good ones at the store. I have been getting those little, seedless ones, because they are $4 and I am the only one at home to eat it, and the big ones are $7 or more. And my experience with the last 2-3 has been very so-so as to getting “good” watermelons.
Do you get the mustard ones? We used to eat those, as kids, on soda crackers. YUM
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Jan 1 of each year. Collar Greens to give you good
luck for the 364 days ahead.
Today happens to be my gf’s birthday and she makes a trip or two to Green Bluff each season also.
Years ago on a road trip to the beach there were large watermelon fields with farmhands picking and loading into trucks. I drove out into the field and bought two huge melons for a couple of bucks each. Mighty tasty.
Monday in August is the best day for Green Bluff. Most places are closed, visitors are few, but peaches are abundant. LOTS of different varieties are coming in now. I tried Hales yesterday and they are great.
Unfortunately, it’s another miserable drought and forest fire year and the air was terrible. I was showing my sister and BIL around, but the scenery was awful yesterday. Still, the peaches and watermelon are great!
If you don’t have pigs to eat the rinds, you windup with a rotting stinking mess! Was it Ft. Gordon?
Keep that in Dixie.
I’ll stick with Pennsylvania Dutch pork and sauerkraut on New Year’s Day.
I love to make Sardine Sandwiches....
Mix them together, the same way you would prepare a can of Tuna fish. Add lettuce and sliced tomato very thin slice of onion or chopped onion. Spread between two slices of bread.
Good Day!
I can still remember my grandfather talking about “Rattlesnake” watermelons...and he would spend about 10-minutes thumping each melon with his finger trying to find the perfect melon.
I do that now, but have no idea how to pick a good one...people in the market just think I must know something!
Have you driven to the summit of Mt. Spokane (hopefully on a clearer day)? Probably could see your house from up there.
My wife isn’t thrilled about windy mountain roads...unless it is to the top of Mt. Schweitzer after a good dump!
Haven’t been to the top of Mt. Spokane yet. We can see Mt. Rathdrum from near our house, but have to get up a bit higher to see Mt. Spokane.
Mt. Spokane from Rathdrum Mountain.
Thanks. Does the road to Mt. Spokane (206) go through to Spirit Lake?
You can reserve and stay overnight in the old fire lookout at the summit. Part of the state park, I think.
Now I’m not sure if the road to the top is still open past the lodge. Still reading... Mica deposits around the summit are interesting.
Looks like the fire lookout is on Quartz Mountain, right next door. Thought it was on Mt. Spokane proper. Sorry.
The way to tell if a watermelon is good and at the right maturity is to check the pigtails where the melon is attached to the vine. If the two pigtails on either side are dried out, it is good. Unfortunately, unless you are growing your own, the pigtails are hard to see in the dark.
Pick it up and pat it with an open hand. Feel the echo coming back. If it feels flat, the melon is going to be over ripe and mushy. If the echo is too tight the melon is green. A perfect melon feels like it could be full of jello. We raised a lot of watermelons when I was growing up.
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