A Singular Beautiful Flower

A Singular Beautiful Flower
©2005, Basil Sands

Among the lush gardens of the Master Gardener, set upon a small green grassy knoll, surrounded by many types and kinds of beautiful flowers was set one flower, of singular loveliness, planted in a small circle of soil surrounded by neatly lined round stones, all of the same size.

Unlike the other flowers in the garden, which were grouped in clusters of similar color and shape, this one sat alone in the midst of them all. Shining beautifully in its setting at the center of the garden.

It was different in many ways from the others, most impressive in its individuality.

Its leaves were broad and smooth, a deep luxurious green that contrasted well against the grass that grew around its small circle.  The stalk was sturdy yet delicate.  Though it looked soft and supple one got the definite impression that it could withstand a hurricane as if it were a breeze.  If one were to caress the length of it, it would seem as though you had just brushed silk against your finger tips. 

Its petals were a lovely pure white where they grew out of the stalk.  Not far from the pure white base of the petals, there gradually appeared small red streaks which increased in number, became thicker streaks, then lightened into a bright orange which finally burned into a shimmering yellow fringe that made the flower seem edged with gold as it sparkled in the sun when the morning dew was fresh.

The Master Gardener would have set times when the apprentice gardeners were allowed to take their choice of flowers from the garden for the purpose of transplanting them into their own plots so as to cultivate and care for them.

The Masters garden was extremely large.  So large that no one could walk through all of its winding paths and mazes in a single day.  For that matter, no one could walk through its entirety in less than a week unless he walked very fast and then he would scarcely notice much of the varied color and detail of the multitude of diverse flowers that surrounded him.

Most of the time the apprentice gardeners would look over the flowers nearest the gate into which they entered the garden. There were several gates, a great number in fact, that entered the garden every few yards along wall. The apprentices would walk about for an hour or perhaps two, some for half a day, and the most diligent until supper time,  until they found the flower, or flowers, they preferred out of what they had seen.

They would base their decision of what flowers to take on many different factors. Some would choose wisely others, not so wisely.

Some would choose a single flower from a group of similar ones that he felt stood out in some minor way from those around it, even though to the untrained eye they all looked nearly the same.

Others, those from lands where the weather and soil where more harsh than for those who lived in fairer lands, would choose a flower that was perhaps only average in beauty but sturdy to withstand the difficult conditions in his garden plot.

Yet others, the foolish ones, chose which ever flower first struck their fancy, without even considering how they would care for it or whether it would be fit for their plot, these apprentices were back often as they typically would return home and find the flower no more to their liking and give it to someone else or simply throw it away.

Those who ventured far enough into the garden would notice the single flower, alone at the center in its small circle of soil surrounded by neatly laid stones.  They would admire its beauty and how it stood out among the others.  They would comment on its strength and it’s well cared for appearance.

But the thoughtful ones always left saying “It is lovely, the most beautiful of flowers. It is, in fact, so lovely in its current setting that I am afraid that I may ruin it by changing its surroundings. I am afraid it won’t fit well with the layout in my garden.  I would have to remake my entire garden plot to accommodate this stunningly beautiful flower.  Sadly, then I will not take it.”

The ones with the harsh lands would comment, “I cannot take this flower, it is so delicate that my lands would ruin it, and if it did survive,  it would certainly shine so much brighter than my other flowers that it would make the garden seem out of balance. I cannot take it.”

The foolish ones simply stated, “Such a pretty flower must take too much work to care for, I’ll stick with the easy ones...oh look at that lovely dandelion.”

So year after year all of the apprentice gardeners would pass up this perfect little flower. They would walk by and observe its beauty, sometimes considering it at length, but never asking the Master if they could take it home.

The flower started to wonder if there was something wrong with its looks.  Perhaps its leaves were too broad, too green or too smooth.  Maybe its petals were too streaked in the center or too brilliant at the edges.

The flower sometimes would wish it were different.  More like the others that were always being taken home by the apprentices.  The simple shaped tulips, the thorned roses, or the bright little pansies always seemed to find homes.

At times the single flower thought the other flowers were mocking her, laughing in their nearly silent flower voices, when they had been chosen even after the apprentices had looked for so long at the beautiful flower.

The single flower stood beautifully nonetheless. Unfading in its splendor, it grew more lovely everyday.

The Master continued to cultivate it, giving it his greatest of care as together they two stayed in the garden season to season, year into year.

The Master Gardener would often talk to the flower, in his deep gentle voice, lovingly giving it his attention.  He always looked so happy to see the flower.

After many seasons had gone by, all of the flowers that had been planted at the same time as the single beautiful one had long been taken home by apprentices and placed in other gardens to grow and make seed for their kinds. 

One bright sunny summer day, when the skies were a clear, almost crystalline blue, a new apprentice arrived. 

The flower had never seen this apprentice before.  He stood in front of the neat stone circle and dark soil of the single flower’s setting and stared.  He stared unlike any of the others had.  He could not take his eyes off this flower. 

He stood there from early in the morning, when the dew was still sparkling on the beautiful flowers petals, taking in every angle and view of that wonderful flower, walking back and forth through the hours of the sun, looking at it from up high and at times with his face low to the ground, until late in the day when the shadows of evening began to fall.

The Master approached the apprentice with a smile on his face.

“What do you think of this most beautiful flower, apprentice?”

“It is absolutely the most beautiful thing I have ever seen,” he replied never taking his eyes off the flower.

“Yes, it is certainly the loveliest of them all. Yet no one has found it fitting for his garden yet, it has been here many years.” said the Master Gardener.

“Sir,” said the apprentice, “I am sorry if I impose on you, I see that this flower must be your favorite, as it is so lovely and in such a perfect setting.  I have been searching through every row of your garden for many years, starting from the outermost rows and working my way in.  I have seen every flower in your garden, but none that would fit my garden plot, so I have never taken any as you allow us to do.  I have continuously improved my plot and prepared for the day I would find the perfect flower to be at the center in my garden, but have never found one that I felt would work. Until now, that is.“

“I scarcely believed I would ever find such a perfect flower as this.  It is in every aspect, precisely what I have been looking for.  Its broad green leaves would perfectly balance the coloring of my grass.  Its smooth silky stalk is so tender looking yet I can see it is strong.  And its petals, I cannot describe in words how they are so beautiful.

“Oh, listen to me...I am stuttering with excitement like a child on Christmas morning even as I speak about this flower.

“If you are willing, Master,” he continued, “may I take this flower, this most perfect flower to my garden?”

“Of course, my son,” replied the Master, “this flower has been waiting, very patiently waiting, for a long time. The other apprentices have seen its worth, but they were unworthy or incapable of caring for such a perfect flower.  You though, have prepared all your life for it, it is therefore naturally yours.”

And the apprentice gathered his tools and tenderly, began to take the flower.  He dug into the soil around the flower keeping far from the roots so as to cause no damage.  All the while he hummed a peaceful tune that made the flower feel loved and wanted.  Gently, he, lifted the flower and its soil into a perfect sized pot and transported it many miles away to his own garden plot. 

The apprentices garden was magnificent.  There was a stone wall around it.  Inside the gate of the wall was a path of dark, flat, smooth stones inlaid with streaks of ivory and gold, gold the same brilliant yellow as the edges of the flowers petals. The inlaid stones were set in a pattern that led to the center of the garden in which there was a gentle mound of the most beautiful green grass, perfectly trimmed and manicured.  There were four leafy trees planted around the sides of the mound that would allow for intermittent periods of shade across the mound throughout the day, while still allowing many hours sunlight as well. The trees at the north and south were large and round, while the trees at the east and west were tall and narrow.

At the top of the mound was a large circle formed of the same ivory and gold streaked stones that made the path.  Immediately inside that circle was another circle of smooth white stones that looked like giant pearls which surrounded a plot of the richest and healthiest looking soil the flower had ever seen.

On the circle of flat stones were set four curved stone benches inlaid with ivory and gold, and edged with many precious stones that, when the sun struck them, shone their colors like a rainbow against the ground and objects that passed them.  The benches were placed facing in line with the trees so that whoever was entered always found at least one bench shaded at any given time of day.

The apprentice placed the flower tenderly into the center of the rich, dark soil and carefully made it comfortable in its new home.

Daily he would come and care for the flower, humming his gentle melodies and speaking in a tender, deep voice the words of admiration that welled up in his heart for this most beautiful of flowers.

All who would come and see the singular beautiful flower at the center of this magnificent garden were convinced that this garden was created for this flower as it all fit so perfectly. 

Never had the flower been so happy.  And the visitors marveled at its beauty.  And the apprentice loved her, his singularly beautiful flower.