The Gardener
A Dream Estate
Five miles from the hustle and bustle of London, there was a small, quiet, rich, and beautiful town where great nobles had their summer residences. This is the story of the most cherished of these estates. One that was beautiful beyond measure.
The gardener, Larson, meticulously cared for the lawns. With his passion for gardening, he ensured that rare flowers adorned the paved paths and stone walls. That delicious fruits hung in clusters from the strong trees and that the finest vegetables grew in the elaborate kitchen garden, with the rarest plants gracing the expensive conservatory.
This estate was a monument to nature's beauty, and its owners were very proud of it. They visited it without fail every summer.
— What a beautiful property we have! — Oh, and how much effort we put into maintaining it! — But it's worth all the work. After all, the entire property bears our family name. Whatever we do, it's little compared to the honor the estate brings us.
The Owners' Visit
— Your Lordship, welcome! — Good day! What have you prepared for us this year, Larson? — Sir, I have been tending these Indian mangoes for five years already. The fruit needs a certain type of soil and special watering methods. For months I studied how to grow them, but... — That's enough, Larson! Do we have a harvest? — Oh, yes, look! I picked the best ones. I picked them myself. Perfect shape and perfect size. — I wish you'd wash yourself, Larson! — Oh, forgive me. I was just digging for these new radishes from France and... — Cut that short and let's see if Larson's mangoes are any good. — You should have cut them already, Larson! — Forgive me, madam. I'll... — Go on, wash up!
Guests at the Table
— Are they good, sir? Madam? — Mmm, they're alright. — Sir, His Lordship Lord Cornwall has come to see you. — Oh, let him in! — I'm already in, my friend. — Good day! Glad to see you! — Are those Indian mangoes? — Well... — Mmm, they're delicious. The best I've ever eaten. When were you in India? — They're not from India. Larson managed to grow them here, right on our estate. — Larson, you can work wonders. — Larson? Didn't you have work in the garden? — Uh, yes, madam. The radishes, I tell you... — You may go to the garden, Larson. — Ah, I told you it's absolutely exhausting to maintain this estate. Ah, I'm terribly tired. — Well, I came to invite you to our gathering tomorrow evening. I hope you can both make it. — It will be our pleasure, Lord Cornwall. We will be there. And may I take some mangoes? Larson is a true master. — It's not Larson, but the blessings sent by our ancestors to this land. Take as many mangoes as you wish! — Send them to be packed immediately!
Fruits from the Market
The next evening, the Lord and his wife went to Lord Cornwall's house. Besides the sumptuous food, people were served apples and pears. The tastiest any guest had ever eaten.
— Honestly, the apples and pears are delicious. — Are these from your estate? Who is the gardener, Lord Cornwall? — Oh, I don't have a gardener. But I'm looking for one. These are from John's produce stall at the local market. He told me he brought the fruits especially for tonight. — Well, the man knows his fruits well. Truly exotic. We wouldn't have expected such fruits from your garden, Lord Maxwell.
Lord Maxwell returned home insulted.
— Tell Larson to come immediately! — Yes, sir. — Larson, you absolutely must do a better job in the garden! — You sent for me, sir? — Well, we just ate the most beautiful and delicious apples and pears at Lord Cornwall's. — You must go to the produce stall, to a certain John at the market, and ask him where he gets those fruits. — And then learn from the man who grows them how he makes them so tasty. — A certain John at the market? Well, I sold him a package this morning. He said he wanted apples and pears for a very special gathering. I had no idea it was the same one you attended. — So, the apples and pears were from our garden? Can you prove that? — Oh, yes. Here is the receipt from this morning. I tried a new combination of soils to make the fruits larger, juicier, and... — Larson! You could have given them to us to taste first! — But I served you last time you were here. And you told me they were alright. — Enough! Now gather more fruits and we will send baskets of fruit to all our friends and tell them they are from our garden, with the blessing of our ancestors. — Honestly, Larson, you should be careful with such things. Ah, now go!
A Rare Flower for the Princess
— Larson, you toil day and night in the garden. Thanks to you, this garden is the most beautiful in the entire country. And they never say a word of praise to you. — Uh, hey, the package is ready. Now I can go look at the blue lotus. — The blue lotus? — Yes. And don't worry too much. As long as they let me do what I want in the garden, I'm content.
The next morning, Lord Maxwell received an urgent message. The King and Princess wanted him to present himself immediately at the palace for important matters.
— What is it, dear? — The King and Princess have urgently summoned me to the palace for matters concerning Alabama. — You must leave immediately! I'll help you pack! — Well, shouldn't I take a gift for the Princess? — But will you have time to get something for her? — The Princess is a great connoisseur of rare flowers. Call Larson!
Larson was sent to bring a rare flower from the garden and then brought Lord Maxwell a blue lotus.
— Are you sure it's a rare flower? — Uh, yes, Your Lordship. It is found only high in the mountains of India and Tibet. But I... — Enough! — Larson, melons! — Melons? — Yes, the royal chef asked me to send him some melons at the castle. The royal family liked last year's very much. — Can you prove that? — Uh, here is the note the royal chef sent me this morning. — You should have given them to us to taste first! — But I did. And you said they were alright. Last summer, the royal gardener lost his harvest, so he asked me for some and presented them to the chef and the royal family. — Come on, stop confusing us! You must leave now, dear! — Bye, dear! Keep the melons in the carriage.
Larson is Fired
Lord Maxwell presented the flower to the Princess, and she was delighted. She placed the flower in a crystal bowl, right in the middle of the conference table. But a jealous courtier told Lord Maxwell:
— The flower you brought the Princess was relatively common. Wasn't it? You shouldn't let Larson fool you like that. I know a gardener who is much better than Larson. You should hire him instead.
Lord Maxwell was very furious when he heard this. He went back to the estate to confront Larson. When he arrived, Larson was in the garden talking to Lady Maxwell.
— Larson? — Please, let me cut down the old, dry trees. In their place, I will grow a patch of oats where many birds will come to eat, and the garden will be filled with their cheerful chirping and come alive with vibrant colors. — These trees have always been here, Larson. Since before you came here. Don't you dare touch them! — But, sir, I thought... — Don't forget, Larson, that this garden belongs to our family. How dare you decide what to do with it? — Forgive me, sir. — You will no longer stay here from now on. A good courtier will send us another gardener, and we will no longer need your services here. — Sir, you gave me an ordinary flower to take to the Princess and told me it was rare? Now I should write her a letter to apologize. — But, sir... — Don't make me repeat myself! Come on, leave!
Larson had to leave the estate and the beautiful garden he had maintained with so much love and care for so many years.
The Princess's Letter
Meanwhile, Lord Maxwell wrote that letter to the Princess.
— Your Majesty, I regret to inform you that the blue lotus I presented to you on my last visit to the palace was not a rare flower, as I was told. I apologize for this oversight. I hope you will forgive me and understand that I did not intentionally wish to distort certain facts before you. Respectfully, Lord Maxwell.
— Dear Lord Maxwell, I know that the flower you brought me is truly rare. Even if it is a common flower in India or Tibet, it is very rare in these parts of the world, and it is truly incredible that your gardener Larson managed to grow it in this climate. For this, he deserves congratulations. I have heard much about your estate, about Larson's garden, and I would like to visit them. As it is late this year, I propose to visit next summer. If it does not inconvenience you in any way. Sincerely, Princess Flora.
The Princess's Visit
Many preparations were made for the Princess's visit. New seeds were bought, new flowers, all with the new gardener, for the Maxwell family never considered the garden to be Larson's. It had always been theirs and theirs alone. Meanwhile, Larson found work at Lord Cornwall's house and did a wonderful job in Lord Cornwall's garden.
A year passed, summer came again, and the Maxwell family awaited the Princess's visit. And the Princess arrived in the small town.
— Stop! Coachman, stop! A patch of oats for the birds to come to? Only Larson could do that. This must be the estate! — Your Highness, I am almost certain that Lord Maxwell's estate is a little further ahead. — And I am certain that this must be the estate! This must be the most beautiful garden in the country. It cannot be anything but the work of the skilled Larson. — Larson? Is that you? — Yes. — Ah! I am Princess Flora! — Princess! Forgive me, please, young lady. I must, I must wash myself. — It only shows how passionately you do your work. Do you happen to have my favorite melons? — Yes! I'll bring them right away!
Meanwhile, the coachman sent word to Lord Maxwell that the Princess had arrived. They hurried to Lord Cornwall's estate.
— Princess Flora, Your Highness, our estate is a little further up the hill. — Is that so? But Larson is here!
Then, Princess Flora was told how Larson had been dismissed after sending the Princess an ordinary flower. Princess Flora understood. She was clever enough to realize that the Maxwell family was selfish and had never appreciated Larson's extraordinary talent and love for gardening. She decided to set things right.
Larson's Paradise
— Larson, you are an extraordinarily talented and passionate gardener, and I will grant you a garden and a mansion that will be yours, where you can garden as much and however you wish, and you will be paid from the royal treasury. All who see your garden will call it Larson's Paradise, and by this name, it will be known throughout the country.
Finally, Larson received the appreciation he deserved.
