Watermelon seeds have been found in the tombs of Egyptian kings and embedded into the foundation of an ancient Sudanese temple. Nowadays we revere this fruit for its sweet, juicy flesh, but long ago, when wild watermelons were still bitter, they were a life-sustaining source of hydration in the desert. 

Watermelon has long been synonymous with summer, although for many it’s taken on greater symbolic meaning as a sign of solidarity or celebration. And although most of us are only familiar with the Barbie-hued varieties, there are dozens of types of watermelons in all sorts of shades out there, often with whimsical names like Moon and Stars, Georgia Rattlesnake, and Jubilee Bush.

Humans love watermelons so much that they often appear where you least expect them. From a hotel in Brazil that bears an uncanny resemblance to a seeded slice to a home painted in the familiar pink-and-green colors, watermelons abound.