Grow, Grow, Grow…

A few weeks before, Abby and Elly each brought home from school a small seedling of 萬壽菊。These seedlings came back in very tiny plastic cups with very little soil. The class teachers told the girls to nurture the plants until flowers grew out.

Grandma picked up the responsibility of caring these plants. First she bought two bigger pots, one green and one orange and a medium-sized bag of dark soil. She suggested to bring the seedlings home because our home is rich in sunshine than the girls’ home. The seedlings stand with tiny leaves at first. Slowly they develop into stronger branches and bigger leaves as water is poured in and sunshine help photosynthesis.

Happy moments come when small flowers buds appear at the tip of some shoots. “What colours are the flowers?” is our question. As Abby’s plant was the bigger and stronger one. It grew faster than Elly’s. The first flower was orange in colour. It was the right time to bring it back to school for her class-teacher to look at. That was a few days before Chinese New Year. After the weekend Abby handed the pot back home. We found that the only opening flower was bent at the stalk near the receptacle and the plant began to dry up. Grandma gave the plant water and supported the drooping flower. As magic, the plant was saved after water was added and became lively again.

The first flower that grew out from Elly’s plant was yellow. We decided to have Elly take the potted plant back to school after the Chinese New Year. What will Abby, Grandma and Elly say to these plants?
Well, Abby will say, “Grow, grow, grow…”
Grandma will say, “Magic…..”
Elly will say, “Sunshine, water and soil.” Do you know why? Well, Elly has learned the three important factors for a seed/seedling to grow already from a book.