The little garden

There once was a little garden that was very lonely. Every spring when the grass began to grow, the little garden dreamed of flowers and vegetables growing instead of grass. One time the little garden heard through the grape vine growing along the fence of other gardens in the neighborhood. They were full of flowers and vegetables. Humans tended these gardens, watering and weeding and enjoying the good food. The little garden just dreamed. Humans just drove their cars on the little garden or walked across it as a short cut. Sometimes a dandelion would send it's bright, yellow flower up through the grass and the little garden would smile with joy. The little garden knew that it could do so much more if someone took care of it.

Then one day a farmer thought this would be a great location for a garden. So the farmer began by cleaning the little garden. There were trash and car parts and the grass was covering the side walk from years of no one keeping it in bounds. Then the farmer built some beds and removed the grass and the little garden took a deep breath. The farmer turned and tilled the soil and the little garden smiled. These beds were filled with soil and amended with good things to feed the soil. One day the little garden felt a tickle and it felt good. Earthworms were busy tunneling through the soil, making it easy for plant roots to grow in it. The farmer planted seeds and young plants so that all the people in town could see the little garden. The little garden was very happy. Each day the little garden would wake up and greet the new plants and it helped them grow larger every day.

By the end of spring, the little garden was full of flowers and the people in town were delighted to see all this color. They thanked the farmer for planting this garden and giving them this little treasure in the town. The farmer was very proud of the little garden.

By the end of summer the little garden was tired. It's a lot of work helping so many plants grow. But the farmer knew what to do. The farmer began by clearing the beds of any plants that had finished their show and again turned and tilled the soil. The farmer added more good things to the soil and then planted cool weather plants and seeds.

The little garden had many visitors including Monarch butterfly's on their annual migration to Mexico. Hummingbirds sipped sweet nectar from all the flowers in the little garden and more people visited. Some even asked if they could help take care of the little garden. The farmer showed them what to do and told them the story of how the little garden began.

One day the farmer thought of how he could thank the little garden for all it had given him and his family. The little garden had become a part of the community and the people in town enjoyed it's beauty.

So the farmer planned a celebration in honor of the little garden. All the people in town were invited. Parents brought their children and some people brought their pets. The farmer and his family were there along with many of their friends. The people that helped take care of the little garden were there. There was music and food and face painting for the children and all the people spent the day admiring the little garden. The farmer told all the visitors the story of how the little garden began and he thanked them for attending this great celebration. More people asked if they could help take care of the little garden. Some even said they knew of other little gardens that needed help. The farmer was excited that so many people were there and that the little garden could be an example of how other little gardens could look like.

At the end of the day the farmer looked at the little garden and smiled. The little garden was very happy that so many people had walked across it that day. The little garden looked brighter than ever. The grape vine that grows along the fence brought congratulations from the other gardens in the neighborhood. The little garden was lonely no more.