This pineapple plant's been part of our household more than six years. When James started it, he just wanted to see what would happen. He had read they take around five years to produce fruit, but of course, we don't live in the tropics...
I was thoroughly skeptical while he was in high hopes. Every spring he hauled it outside to soak up what little sunlight reaches our shady backyard. Every fall he lugged it back into the house. For five years as it got bigger and heavier and outgrew its pot a couple of times, James was committed. And I was counting down the years until we could finally give up.
The foliage (is that the right word?) has sharp edges and tips that don't surrender at all. Whenever I came too close and got poked - which was way too often - I muttered something like, "I can't wait to get rid of this thing!" But, where I saw ugly-takes-up-space-and-causes-pain-plant, James saw sweet reward ahead.
Oh me of little faith!
Five years of growth with no sign of what was to come, then one day: baby fruit! Seven months later the pineapple was big enough and heavy enough to make the stem bend completely over (where was our camera that day?) so James cut it off. We let it ripen and eventually got another big surprise...it actually tasted good!
Sometimes it's said skeptics eat crow, sometimes their words. All I ate was part of a pineapple I never ever thought we'd see. And James was grinning the whole time.
So the story of the Pulaski County Pineapple illustrates a couple of lovely truths: Seed produces... and grace is for the undeserving. So be it.
