TIMES AND SEASONS

We have 365 days in a year and 366 days in a leap year and It's so amazing that in all of this days, nature changes and gives us different times and seasons.

AFRICA

In most parts of Africa, the seasons are divided into two; dry season and the rainy season and so we are going to see what this seasons offer us over here. A Doctor friend once advised that if possible, I should consistently eat every fruit that comes out in each season. I tried it out and it yeilded a positive result.

In Nigeria, there is a popular fruit that comes out during the dry season, known as star apple, the Igbos call it 'udara' the Yorubas call it 'agbalumo' I grew up hearing everyone around me call this unique African Star Apple, 'Udara'.
It came to a point when I realized I did not know the English name for Udara until one day, my elder sister's children were saying "mummy bought star apple" I had to ask them what was star apple and the youngest ran into the kitchen and came out with what I know as Udara, I almost knocked myself. I immediately remembered Google and really googled it🙄 o my gawd. The children just stared at me not knowing what was going through my mind. Lol.

Star apple

Star apple is a fruit that has a soured sweet taste. Its taste differs and depends on circumstances. Some people believe that when it is been plucked before the first rain in the year that it would never be sweet, while some believe that when it is plucked premature and forced to ripening that it would not be sweet, and some believe that its sweetness is derived from its nature, if it was not a sweet star apple by nature then it will never be sweet ripen or even with the first rain touch. To me🙄 when it looks very reddish on the outside I believe it will be sweet and sometimes it works for me. Different people with different beliefs. I took a lot of star apples during the dry season early this year and I was really lucky to stumble on really sweet ones.

During the dry season, crops and every other plant tend to wither, except for trees and plants whose roots are rooted very deep in the soil. This is as a result of soils getting so dry and cracky making plants finding it difficult to get water for their survival. Farmers do not see this season as a good one for planting, therefore veggies and other things in the market tend to increase in price.

The dry season is over and star apples have finished, pending the next dry season. I don't know if it is still out in other parts of Africa and beyond. Star apple also have great health benefits I learnt from a nutritionist, who said that star apples contains a great percentage of vitamin c. I remember that during the last dry season which was coupled with severe dust and heavy sun shine, I took lots of star apples and drank lots of water every day. I did it like a routine and never fell ill throughout the dry season even when people around me were falling ill. So I think it worked.

The rainy season

This is a period when it rains periodically and sometimes everyday. Most areas even get flooded during the rainy season. Sometimes these floods are caused by poor drainage systems or excessive rainfall. People who live in swampy areas are more likely to fall victim to the flood and only enjoy their homes during the dry season as the rainy season turns them into refugees in their Country.

Most people complain of the rainy season, reasons being that their businesses do not really move well. For me, the rainy season is my best season because I feel fresh in the weather and the season comes with abundance of food stuffs, fresh vegetables and sea foods like oyster, periwinkle, crab, crayfish, fresh fish, ice fish and many other things.

Also, the rainy season is the season of planting. I tend to find almost everybody in the spirit of planting, most especially in remote villages. This season turns everywhere green as plants and trees get their lives back but there are some plants that don't really do well during the rainy season, examples of such is the plantain and banana plant, most especially when the rain is accompanied with wind, so I realise that it prospers only during the very early rainfall. Plantains and bananas cannot withstand heavy rainfalls accompanied with wind. Because of this, a bunch of bananas or plantain are very expensive in the market during the rainy season.

This is also the season for maize and pear. My colleague at work informed me that he saw where someone was actually roasting maize and I was surprised. I think that's actually a benefit of early planting. I visited my neighbor's farm and realised the massive maize plants in there. Many people have planted maize and I can tell that next month we will be experiencing a surplus in maize. The land is wet and green!

Reality of Life

Just as plants and nature; humans have their different times and seasons of life. A tree might look so brownish and faded because of a particular dry season but does not get impatient and make rash decisions. It waits for its season. It understands the times and seasons but in all these it keeps working hard for its food. It doesn't curse or yell or blame anybody for its misfortunes during the dry season but understands the times and seasons. Same attitude is accredited to the life of the ants, they work hard and understand the times and seasons.

If only we as humans could also put in some diligence in whatever we are doing, while trying to understand our times and seasons we would not judge life with one particular season but will be more appreciative while staying positive and eventually yielding positive.

I guess in your location the land is experiencing a particular time and season which may differ from mine over here and you may wish to share with Hive.

Stay positive#

Content and photos are made by me and have not been published anywhere else.