Photo and narrative by Rick Rouse.
Cheria, my cousin Catherine and I were talking with my mom the other day when my brother Roger walked into the house with a magic bean. Well, it wasn’t really a magic bean of course, but it sure wasn’t like any green bean that we had ever seen. As it turns out, Roger had planted some Asian Yardlong Beans in his garden back in the spring, and they had finally reached maturity. We were all just amazed at the sight of the monster veggie and I simply had to take a picture of Mom holding it in her hand. I didn’t have my camera with me so I pulled out my Samsung Moment smart phone and started snapping away.
True to their name, Asian Yardlong Beans grow up to 3 feet in length, but they are best for cooking if picked before they reach that size. This one measured 25 and a half inches. Whether they are tasty or not is yet to be determined, but these “magic” beans sure do make for some interesting conversation. And for an absolutely wonderful lady who has grown, picked, canned and cooked many bushels of green beans over the course of her 8+ decades of life on planet earth, this one certainly made for a great ending to a hot summer afternoon.
Now THAT’S a bean!! Great shot and narrative Rick.
I’ve never seen anything like this either. I’m going to have to track down a pack of seeds and try my own hand at growing some. Thanks for sharing this with us today Mr. Rouse. Your mom looks like a very sweet lady.
Good Lord, does your brother live near a nuclear power plant? That’s the longest bean I’ve ever seen!! Great shot, especially since it was taken with a phone!!
GREAT photo and narrative today. I’d love to see some of these beans first-hand.
Wow! I’m going to show this to my grandmother. She’s a life-long gardener but I’m guessing she’s never seen anything like this.
Eleanor, she is indeed one of the sweetest ladies God ever placed upon the earth. Thanks for the kind words.
Amazing!!!!
That is a great picture of the bean and our dear Mother. She is indeed one of the sweetest ladies ever born and she just loves gardening. I bet Dad, who loved his garden as well is looking down from heaven in amazement at that bean.
What a beautiful and precious lady. And what an astounding bean!!
Amazing!!!
Delightful – both pic and narrative.
Great Scott, what a long bean that is! Wish your mom well for me Rick.
Precious!!!
When I saw Roger walking into the house I thought he was carrying a snake and was ready to run out the back door. When I realized it wasn’t and he said it was a bean…well, I just didn’t believe it could be real. I had to feel the texture and it felt kind of rubbery to me. I still am not totally convinced it is really a bean, but there are others on the vine, so I suppose it must be truly ‘real’. And as for ‘Mom’, well she is one of the most precious ladies that God ever created and I thank Him every day for allowing me to be a part of this wonderful family. Love you “mom”.
I love this shot. Thanks for sharing it with us Rick.
Mr. Rouse, your mom sounds like the kind of person who would make a wonderful friend and neighbor. And that bean is really something else!! Great POTD today!!!!!
How cute!! Your Mom is a doll and I love the bean. Great picture, Rick and narrative. Thank you for posting this special picture today.
Just shows that it doesn’t take a $1000 camera to take a good photograph. Just like on the web, content is king (or queen). Great photo of your mom and story there Rick. Can’t wait to find out how those beans taste!