We're Going Bananas

This is the first year that our little banana tree has produced any fruit. The trees have been in about 2 years, now. Of course, we have been informed that the trees will probably not produce much in the way of edible fruit. The bananas will be very small and little "meat". Still, watching the progress of their growth is very interesting. I have eaten bananas for years, but never actually saw a single one grow.

The tree starts producing a central stalk and a large purple bud is produced. Little by little, each of the "leaves" of the bud is shed and a "hand" (group of bananas) is revealed. A new hand may appear each day. You can see how rapidly the growth occurs.

After several fruitfull "hands", the stalk will produce some infertile groups and the stalk can then be cut off. Whether or not anything is edible, it has been most instructive to watch. I wonder just how many other foods I have eaten, whose source is a mystery. Just goes to show how far most of us are from the actual food chain.....