Hey everyone in the Hive Garden community! 🌿
Earlier today, I was walking around Mummy's rooftop garden checking out how her plants were doing, and I stumbled upon something that instantly brought back a flood of childhood memories.
Hanging right there from the trellis, twisted and coiled up just like a green cobra, was a Snake Gourd (Chichinda)!
The Childhood Prank: "Don't Eat It, It's Poisonous!"
Seeing these snake-like gourds dangling among the leaves took me straight back to when my younger brother and I were kids.
Back then, whenever these vegetables were brought home or grown, I would look at their long, serpentine shape with a wicked mischievous smile. I used to pull my brother aside, point at the dish, and dramatically warn him:
"Be careful! That’s a snake vegetable. If you eat it, the poison will spread all over your body!" 😂
He was young enough to actually believe me! Every time Mummy cooked snake gourd, he would sit at the dinner table looking terrified, staring at his plate like it was about to bite him. I used to get so much amusement out of scaring him back then (as any older sibling naturally would!).
Plot Twist: The Doctor's Revenge 🩺
Of course, he eventually grew up, realized it was completely harmless, and actually started enjoying it when cooked with the right spices!
Fast forward to today: my brother is officially a doctor! 👨⚕️
Now, whenever I get a minor health symptom or feel a bit under the weather, he gets his sweet revenge. He love-threatens me with the most dramatic, scary medical diagnoses or jokes about prescribing "special treatments"—basically doing to me with diseases what I used to do to him with the snake gourd! I guess Karma really has a sense of humor.
Mummy's Rooftop Haven
Mummy's rooftop garden is always full of fresh green surprises. She’s put so much love into growing these vines over trellises and railings.
Looking at these gourds now, it's amazing how much nature can mimic animal shapes. Some of them grow nice and straight, but others curl up in such wild, squiggly shapes that if you aren't paying attention, you'd legit think a real snake was slithering through the leaves!
It’s funny how a simple walk through a garden can trigger memories you haven't thought about in years. Gardening doesn't just give us fresh organic food; it keeps us connected to home, family memories, and a good laugh.
Do you grow snake gourd in your garden, or did you have any funny childhood myths about certain vegetables growing up? Let me know in the comments below! 👇
Happy Gardening! ✨
