Stevie Nelson had been a gardener for thirty years. His whole life had been centred around daffodils, crocuses and hollyhocks. The Williams family, who had employed him for the past few years, had not been very kind or thoughtful towards him, making him work long hours for very little pay.

They also forced him to grow vegetables which he hated. 'I want you to dig up all those stupid flowers,' Mr Williams told him. 'They're useless and a waste of good vegetable space.' Stevie's heart sank into his Wellington boots. His precious flowers to be torn from their roots like a load of weeds; it was more than he could bear.

A whole year passed. Then an advert appeared in the local paper:

GARDENER RETIRING:
ALL VEG. ON SPECIAL OFFER:
COME AND PICK YOUR OWN...

Well. Hoards of people fell on the place and paid Stevie well for his marvellous crops. They were seen staggering under the weights of carrots, potatoes, cauliflowers and the like.

Stevie made a good profit which was his compensation for all the money he'd spent growing his own flowers over the years.

Somewhere there lies a meadow which, every spring, becomes a carpet of daffodils, tulips, pansies and giant hollyhocks. It was Stevies present to the People.

by Sylvia Crèche

Author of the Mervyn Mouse Books