Phoenix, Arizona. The pineapple first appeared in March 2026 and is still growing today. What makes it even more special is that it started from the crown of a pineapple I bought back in July 2023, when I lived in Maricopa, Arizona. I felt bad throwing the crown away, so instead I planted it without really knowing what would happen.
Over time, it slowly rooted itself into the desert life around me. Through blazing summers, monsoons, dust storms, and drought, it kept growing. What started as something small that most people would’ve tossed in the trash became a living part of my everyday world. Through it all, I kept it alive and almost lost it a few times. Somehow, it kept holding on.
And Still My Pineapple Is Growing
I never had a green thumb
I could never grow a pineapple
Until I moved to the desert
Every day, it’s like a vacation
Livin’ in Phoenix
Sunny, hot, never rains
When it does
It’s a monsoon
Coming down in tidal waves
The desert is full of beauty
Brittle and delicate
Flowers blooming from spines so sharp
Life is abundant
The valley is a symphony of singing creatures
The night sky is as bright as the sunny days
Dust storms
Who would’ve known
My pineapple has been through them all
Three years in the making
From blazing heat
To buckets of rain
To drought
It survived again
In the city you’re driving on four lanes
Then through mountains
Mountains everywhere
Citrus growing all around you
Even in neighborhoods
Some give it away
Free
Take and share
Some of the best oranges
Grapefruits
Lemons and limes
I’ve ever had
In my backyard
My pineapple plant is thriving
Growing in the shade
Humidity as low as three percent some days
My house is never damp
Like in LA
Mockingbirds jamming at 3 AM
Hummingbirds always around
I dread the day when my pineapple gets picked
It’s been with me for years
Like Daisy
Who I see every day
Coyotes and roadrunners
Existing together
Javelina marching down the sidewalks
Looking for snacks
And still
My pineapple is growing
I see four small pups
Needing a good home
Who can I trust with my babies
The time has come
The day I dreaded
But I kept the crown
A clone of the original
And still
My pineapple is growing
Photos below
