The quest for the perfect watermelon is a summer tradition, synonymous with the pursuit of the sweetest, juiciest fruit to grace picnics and gatherings. This guide distills the essence of selecting a watermelon that promises to be both ripe and sweet, ensuring your summer days are filled with the refreshing taste of this beloved fruit.
Understanding Watermelon Ripeness
The journey to finding the perfect watermelon begins with an examination of the stem. A brown stem signifies a watermelon that ripened naturally on the vine, absorbing the sun’s warmth and the soil’s nutrients until it reached peak maturity. In contrast, a green stem indicates a premature pick, where the fruit was plucked before its time, leaving its potential sweetness untapped.
The Significance of the Yellow Spot
A key indicator of a watermelon’s ripeness is the presence of a yellow spot. This spot, often found on the belly of the fruit, tells a story of the watermelon’s time basking in the sun. A pronounced yellow spot is a testament to the watermelon’s adequate sun exposure, contributing to its ripeness. A faint white spot, or the absence of one, suggests a lack of sunbathing, leading to a less ripe fruit.
Assessing Firmness and Sound
The texture and sound of a watermelon provide critical clues to its internal state. Gently pressing on the watermelon should reveal a slight give, indicating ripeness. A watermelon that feels too hard and unyielding suggests it is underripe. Moreover, the sound a watermelon makes when tapped can reveal its water content—a hollow sound signifies a fruit bursting with water, while a dull sound may indicate a lack of juiciness.
Putting Theory into Practice
With these insights, the pursuit of the perfect watermelon becomes an informed search for specific traits: a brown stem, a prominent yellow spot, a slight give upon pressing, and a hollow sound when tapped. These indicators, when present together, promise a watermelon that is not only ripe but also abundantly sweet and juicy.
Upon bringing your selected watermelon home, the moment of truth arrives as you cut into the fruit. A ripe watermelon will reveal a deep red flesh, an indicator of its concentrated sweetness. The texture will be crisp, yet tender, filled with succulent juices that confirm its ripe status. The taste test is the final verification, where the sweetness of the watermelon fulfills the promise of a meticulously selected fruit.
Enjoying the Fruits of Your Labor
Selecting the perfect watermelon is an art form that combines observation, touch, and sound. The reward for this careful selection process is a watermelon that enhances summer meals and gatherings with its optimal sweetness and hydration. Whether enjoyed in slices, cubes, or as part of a refreshing salad, the perfect watermelon stands as a testament to the joy of summer eating.
The journey to finding the perfect watermelon is marked by attention to detail and an appreciation for the subtle cues nature provides. By following these guidelines, you can elevate your watermelon selection process, ensuring that each fruit you bring home meets the criteria for ripeness and sweetness. Embrace the challenge, and let the quest for the perfect watermelon become a cherished summer ritual.
They blocked off the road after realizing what this elephant was carrying with its trunk
Elephants are very special creatures. During years of extensive research and observation, scientists have discovered that elephants’ mourning pattern is very similar to that of humans.
Speaking to National Geographic, George Wittemyer, a Colorado State University conservation biologist who has studied elephants for a long time, said, “Elephants have respect for their dead, but their interaction with their dead is not something we fully understand.”
He added that these creatures act upon emotion when a member of their herd dies, which is truly fascinating and speaks of their emotional inteligence.
Twitter user Parveen Kaswan shared a video which proved yet again that elephants are able to mourn death. They not only bury the bodies but show respect to the bones later on.
The video shows a number of people and vehicles parked in the middle of the road. The reason why is that a herd of elephants is crossing the street.
What caught the attention of the bystanders was that one of the elephants was carrying something with its trunk. When they took a closer look, they realized that the animal was carrying a dead baby elephant.
The herd then stopped and placed the body of the dead calf on the ground as the rest of the group gathered around it.
“The family just don’t want to leave the baby,” Kaswan wrote in the caption and added that the sight resembled “funeral procession.”
As they continued their journey, another animal took the dead baby with its trunk.
To see the incredible moment go to the video below.
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