The Joy of Growing My First Dragon Fruit on the Rooftop Garden

Hello dear friends,
I hope you all are doing well and spending a beautiful life with your loved ones. I wish you all happiness and peace.

At the end of 2022, a new building was constructed in our village home. Though the foundation was laid for three floors, only the first floor was completed, and we started living there. From childhood, both my mother and I have had a deep love for nature. Plants, vegetables, flowers—we always found joy in nurturing them. Even in our old home, we maintained small vegetable gardens in the yard. So, after moving into the new house, we decided to carry on that passion by starting a rooftop garden.

Together, my mother and I began planting different vegetables and trees on the roof. One day, while visiting a relative’s house, I brought back a small cutting of a dragon fruit plant. At that time, I didn’t realize this little cutting would bring me so much happiness. I planted it on the rooftop, and though it took some time to grow due to the limited soil in pots, the plant slowly matured with weeks, months, and years of care.

A few days ago, when I returned home from Dhaka, I went straight to the rooftop after freshening up. To my surprise, I saw that the dragon fruit plant had grown quite large and had even borne fruit! There were two dragon fruits—one nearly ripe and another still green. That moment filled me with immense joy. There’s a unique satisfaction in seeing the first fruit from a plant you’ve nurtured yourself.

Dragon fruit, scientifically known as Hylocereus undatus, is a type of cactus fruit. Native to tropical regions, it is not only beautiful in appearance but also rich in nutrition. It is packed with vitamin C, calcium, fiber, and antioxidants. Regular consumption of dragon fruit helps boost immunity, improve digestion, regulate diabetes, and even maintain healthy skin.

Although the fruits on my plant were small in size, for me, they were priceless. Behind them lies our patience, dedication, and love. While I planted the cutting, the real care came from my mother and younger sister. They watered the plant daily, protected it from harsh weather, and nurtured it with affection. So, when the plant finally bore fruit, it felt like the result of our combined effort.

This experience reminded me that in life, success often takes time. Just like the dragon fruit plant, it may grow slowly and test your patience, but with care and perseverance, the reward eventually comes—and that reward feels extraordinary.

Rooftop gardening is not just about beauty. It makes the house cooler, improves the surrounding environment, and provides fresh vegetables and fruits. Most importantly, eating something grown with your own hands brings a sense of fulfillment that store-bought produce can never match.

Now, whenever I look at the dragon fruits on my rooftop, I feel nature is teaching me a life lesson—true success comes through hard work, patience, and love.