Miniature Gardens

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23025, 30 April 1938, Page 8 (Supplement)

Miniature Gardens

rPHKRK was to be a grand flower show 1 i„ the village hall. Besides prizes for the usual things-vegetables, fruit, flowers, jam and cookery—there was o be a special prize for the children. It was to be for the best little garden in a bowl or dish. . \nna Moody and Jess Montlv stood reading the big placard, all about the show, their eyes dancing excitedly oser the big words. "O-oh," cried Jess, I think I will grow a little garden in a piedish and send it in! , . , , "Oh could you.' asked Anna, deliehtedlv. "Do you think I could make a posv'of wild flowers and send it m too? Wouldn't it be lovely for both of us to win a prize?" "It would be fun to said Jess. "I'm going to ask mother." The next day Jess was busy with a beautiful green piedish which her mother had given her. She put some

broken bits of china and flowerpots in the bottom of the dish with sorae of the softest and brownest - earth she could find. She had nest to think of what to plant in her garden, and it took a great deal of thinking too. "Are vou going in for anV ) or the competitions' ' she asked Jac«t Traverse after school. "Huh!" was all Jack said, but Jess guessed he was. "Which one. - ' ' she persisted. Jack did not tell her which one, but led her to the Traverse's summer house and on a seat lay a large red bowl filled with soft brow'n earth. "Here's mine," said Jack. "Oh, Jack! I'm going in for that one too!" cried Jess. ... . At last the day arrived for the entires to be sent in. Jess took hers over ! t0 Jack's place to show him. Jess had a little hollv tree which she had found | under the big holly tree, and a cave of ' moss which she had gathered near a ! stream, and two tiny daisy plants. Her i mother gave her an eggcup for a pond, | and she pat this in the middle. Her 1 father gave her some grass seed, and she sowed it in her garden for a lawn. I Jack had a little wattle tree in ona I corner of his garden and a weeny, i tweenv. weeping willow in the middle. • He also had a little rock garden, with ' forget-me-nots peeping out ot the ! cr evice« He had a seat under the I willow and another under a miniature | summer house. He had a tiny pussy ! willow in his howl too, and many other i things which help to make a garden i Pr Thf results of the show competitions ! were verv exciting, for Jess .Montly and Jack Traverse had tied for first place and each received five shillings. Anna Moody had a second place for her posy Winifred Chalkta. 1 age 13.