In a corner of Earth where the roses conspire,
And the daisies attend in their petal attire,
A gathering bloomed beneath the generous sky—
Not of people, but plants (though the punch bowl was dry).

The sunflower bragged, “I’m the star of the show!”
While the ivy just giggled and curled to and fro.
The cactus stood tall with a sceptical frown,
But softened when moss offered cookies, warm, brown.

The thyme brought some tales from a pot by the gate,
And basil told jokes that made fennel elate.
The tulips were tipsy, the mint full of cheer,
And lavender laughed till it shed a small tear.

No one compared who had roots that ran deep,
Or who got more rain when the sky had a weep.
They danced with the bees and played tag with the breeze,
And clinked empty teacups beneath the oak trees.

For in gardens, it’s clear, though no one quite says,
That harmony thrives in peculiar ways.
You don’t need one bloom to outshine the rest—
It’s the mix in the bed that the garden loves best.

So here’s to the mulch, and the bugs, and the sun,
To growing together and calling it fun.
To petals and leaves, and all that they share—
For the soil sings loudest when everyone’s there.

• The Garden Knows Best by Jay Rose Ana