Flora and the Friendly Flowers

Flora loved her garden more than anything. Every morning, she would tiptoe outside to check on her vibrant petunias, sunny marigolds, and sleepy snapdragons. She knew each flower by heart and spoke to them in soft whispers, making sure they felt loved. Flora was a very caring girl, and her flowers always seemed to bloom brightest for her.

One sunny afternoon, as Flora was carefully watering her roses, she noticed something new. A moving truck had arrived next door! Soon, a boy with bright red overalls and a straw hat just like hers appeared from the house. He carried a small trowel and looked around with wide, curious eyes.

Flora felt a little flutter in her tummy. She really wanted to say hello, but a shy feeling made her hide a bit behind a tall sunflower. The new boy, whose name was Leo, spotted a patch of daisies near the fence. He knelt down gently, just like Flora did, admiring the petals. He loved flowers too!

Flora took a deep breath. She remembered how much her flowers loved water. Carrying her small, bright blue watering can, she bravely walked towards the fence. "Hello!" she whispered, holding out a single, perfect marigold she had just picked. Leo looked up, surprised, and gave a small, nervous smile. He reached out and gently took the flower.

Flora smiled back, a little less shy now. "Do you like flowers?" she asked. Leo nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! I have a whole book about them!" he said, his voice a little shy too, but full of excitement. Soon, they were both kneeling by the daisies, sharing stories about their favorite plants and giggling about a ladybug crawling on a leaf.

The afternoon quickly turned into a wonderful adventure. Flora showed Leo her secret spot where the sweetest berries grew, and Leo told her about the tiny hummingbirds that visited his old garden. They laughed and played, feeling like they had known each other forever. Flora’s caring heart had helped her make a wonderful new friend, and their gardens, side by side, seemed to bloom even brighter.