It’s called the grape of the south for good reason. Muscadine is the only grape variety that can grow in the hot and humid climate of the southern United States.
Four years ago I wrote about the muscadine vine Daddy planted taking over a nearby pear tree. Since then, we’ve had to cut the vines back several more times to keep it from overwhelming the apple and cherry trees. The vines are so intertwined with the cherry tree, it looks as if the dark purple fruit grows from its branches.
Recently, I worked for hours cutting branches and untangling vines, to keep the resilient muscadine from climbing to the corner of the top of the house.
It doesn’t just grow, it thrives.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; 8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed
Therefore, we do not lose heart……
2 Corinthians 4:7-8, 16 NASB
These muscadine vines were planted by my dad. Years later we get to taste the fruits of this rugged plant that needs minimal attention. The vines thrive so well here in the hot and humid conditions of Alabama that we had to cut some of them back this summer. They were overtaking the nearby pear tree, growing up and into its branches.
We have west-coast friends that had never heard of the large thick-skinned grape. They could hardly stop eating them once we showed them how to eat one. Point the top of the grape toward your mouth and squeeze until the insides pop in.
The flavor is like no other.
The taste and smell of them remind me of my Grandmother Sharrott. She had a muscadine tree in the middle of her yard. I thought it was a tree. That’s what it looked like when I was a little girl. Someone had made a way for the vines to grow up a short pole then arch way out from the center all the way around.
The muscadine is a hardy plant. It does what it’s supposed to do……..grow and be fruitful. Even in difficult conditions.
There’s always fruit.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 NIV
