There's a Dragon in My Garden!

About three years ago, our good friend John Bagnasco gave us a pitahaya, common name dragon fruit plant. It stretched out its green arms, but bore no flowers until this week. Despite our cool, gloomy and drizzly weather, there suddenly appeared an elongated, chartreuse bud that brightened up my Tuesday morning by opening up in spectacular fashion. This beautiful creamy-white flower was over 14-inches in diameter with golden stamens (the male part of the flower) in the center and a yellow star-like stigma (female part) shooting out from the stamens. Although the bloom only lasted 24 hours, its ephemeral beauty is unforgettable and hopefully a fruit will form. My particular variety is known as 'Halley's Comet' and bears very sweet fruit with a pink outer skin and green foliaceous scales. The inner pulp is a deep, magenta and can be eaten fresh or used to make ice cream, yogurt, jelly, juice, candy and pastries. Since I have waited three years for the flower, I can wait a bit longer for the fruit.