Write a short story about someone tending to their garden.

Posted in Spring on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 77 stories

“Gardening leave” by Martin Leigh

Submitted to Contest #31

My knees are killing me. Of all the pastimes to take up when you are in your 60’s, gardening has to be the most ridiculous. I’ve got all the equipment; gloves that say ‘sod off’ to anything up to the ferocity of a Blackthorn bush, a little seat that makes it easier on the knees but then piles on the agony when you get up, metal hand tools that buckle and snap with the slightest sniff of leverage, wellies, a sturdy wheelbarrow and of course a decade of old clothes not fit for public consumption.I know one good reason they say we should take u...

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“Buried Secrets” by Dawn Rae

Submitted to Contest #31

Sheila was digging in the garden when her spade struck something metal. She released the spade handle as if it were a hot coal and scuttled away from it like a crab on the dewy grass. She didn’t need to see what it was her spade had struck – she knew. Leaving the seedlings and garden tools where they were, Sheila hurried indoors to wet her face and try to still her racing heart. With a hot coffee in hand she stood...

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“This Beautiful Earth” by William Hargrove

Submitted to Contest #31

Clare’s eyes swung back and forth across the plot of mulch which held her precious plants so tightly. She admired the beautiful things that they were, the gorgeous life-givers her mother had taught her to behold. Clare patted the soil absentmindedly, swirling it in abstract patterns under her palm and letting its soft homely feel seep through her fingers. She thought back to years prior, a simpler time, when she and her mother would garden from light until dark, getting their knees as dirty as the dim night sky, stars restricted from view th...

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“Weeding out the Bad” by Deanna West

Submitted to Contest #31

Weeding out the BadEver since I was a young little girl I would always love to watch and help my mother in her garden. Her garden was the most beautiful and magical garden that you have ever seen. People would always stop her while she’s outside and say “I love the pink and red roses”, “You are doing such a beautiful job, I get soo excited knowing that I will pass your house every day after I get off work” We never realized just how much comfort it brings to others seeing your work come alive until one day… I was just sitting on the por...

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“Unraveling History” by Takara B. Naraine

Submitted to Contest #31

"Please call Steven in," my mom says to me, with a tired tone. “He's been out there for a while now.”“Yes, please do. I don’t want him digging up my garden.” my Grandma adds. “That garden has been around since your mom was a little girl. Actually, I think it has been here since your Grandpa and I bought this house and moved in.” she adds, chuckling a bit. A bit of a smile on her face and a small twinkle filling her eyes.Whenever Grandma talks about Grandpa, she smiles. Like he's sitting right beside her, laughing along with whatever sh...

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“Earning My Keep” by Dawn Lew

Submitted to Contest #31

Yellow rubber boots, faded from years of sun and monotonous scrubbing, sat near the front door this morning. That could only mean one thing. Millette was going outside today. I could go outside today after being cooped up in the house throughout the winter months. I wasn't allowed to roam in the cold, Millette just wouldn't allow it, but today, today just the sight of those old worn boots told me, my captivity was over. I could roam free and bask in the warmth that was Spring. I watched the...

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“Anguish in Her Eyes” by F Dalton

Submitted to Contest #31

Whenever her hands began to shake, and her mind traveled to the violent past, Thelma retreated to the garden. This is where the death that once followed her now rested, beneath the dirt, growing its roots peacefully; tame and silent. And so, on a quiet Sunday morning, Thelma sat on her knees, in the young soil, happily tending to her various plants. Long, gray hair flowed unapologetically down her spine, shifting as she reached forward and planted new tomatoes and flowers and herbs. She didn’t care to separate and organize the plants; she kn...

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“Parties, hook-ups, and the reality of gardening. ” by Mae Dutson

Submitted to Contest #31

Romy wasn’t ready. She had already fallen in love with the smell of the musty club air, and the risky feeling of dancing with a stranger. She was obsessed with the feeling of the alcohol, burning down her throat and bubbling deep inside her stomach. Waking up wrapped in a stranger's sheets, the curtains drawn and blinking through the sunlight that poured inside. She adored eating at restaurants with draping curtains and tables adorned with decorative candles, right across from someone she’d met last night. Romy just wasn’t ready....

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“Gift” by Kelsey Marlett

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #31

I saw an exorcism on T.V. once. I think I was seven or eight, sitting cross-legged on the carpet, and I was bathed in the shivery blue light of the television screen. The girl on the screen writhed and screamed. Her hands clawed at nothing, her spine arched and unlatched, and her eyes were black and draining, unspooling, emptying out as she screamed. I suppose this was like an exorcism. It had been four years now, but my body still didn’t belong to me. I drifted from place to place. Picked up groceries, sat in the garden, felt his ...

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“Dead Garden” by Thomas Braswell

Submitted to Contest #31

Beth stood upon the walkway in awe, and excitement. She could not hide the glee she felt as the Realtor handed her the keys to her new home. Beth stood froze, as the Realtor got in his car to leave, gazing at the plain beauty of her new front lawn. "I need FLOWERS!" she yelled, looking around as she realized it was out loud. Beth strolled happily through the garden section of the hardware store. Selecting flowers based on colors, and shape. Paying no mind to whether they were perennials, or annuals. One hundred...

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“Wood and Iron” by Heera A

Submitted to Contest #31

It was one of those days where nothing was supposed to happen. Or at least, nothing out of the ordinary. The first rays of the sun were peering in from behind the greyish-white clouds. I had my morning cigarette tucked in the corner of my lips, the tobacco smoke tickling my nostrils with familiar warmth. A pair of birds flew twittering over my head. I cannot recall exactly what they were because I didn't really care much for birds, but I hoped I had looked up.At least, I would have noticed that each bird had four wings instead of two.And tha...

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“Garden Rings” by Tom Beach

Submitted to Contest #31

Garden Rings After 45 years in construction, specifically carpet installation, I never thought I'd find myself taking up gardening. In my job I was on my knees more than I was on my feet. But there I was, once again on my knees. The thing was, putting on my old knee pads from work was like slipping on a well broken in pair of jeans. I felt at home, in my comfort zone. Working in the dirt and getting it under my fingernails just added to the familiarity and comfortability. I wasn’t new to gardening. It was just that now I had time...

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“Her” by Emma Lin

Submitted to Contest #31

During my undergraduate years at New York University (NYU), I interned with The Three--JP Morgan Chase, Merrill Lynch, Citigroup with an ambition to be with the top of the top, to be excellent.I made strong social relations with project managers, received awards and praise and invitations to luxurious gatherings. Beginning in 2012, I got laid off from my job at Goldman Sachs and it was a good-bye to my handsome six figure salary, Porsche 911, an Upper Manhattan penthouse and other materialistic possessions that money could buy. I reloc...

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“Drake's Garden” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #31

See this place? It’s known as Drake’s Garden and I’m Drake. Drake Drisdroll, Patient number 67511 to be exact. Welcome to Mayfield Psychiatric Hospital. I’m not big on introductions as my social skills are at times lacking according to my case manager. I have reasons for my lack of proper social etiquette. I have been diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic. In my humble estimation, I am not the loony one. The zookeepers in this place are nuts and they want to keep the normal ones like me locked up so that no one ...

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“Don’t come between a man and his dog” by Bruno Lowagie

Submitted to Contest #31

Wilbur Jennings was still reading his newspaper when Ayla, a German Short-haired Pointer, started barking at him. Wilbur looked up from his paper.“Eleven thirty already?” he said. Checking his watch was a mere formality. Ayla was regular as clockwork. It was time for Wilbur to go outside for garden duty.Every day, on weekdays as well as on weekends, Wilbur took the “shit shovel” from the shed at half past eleven in the morning. Systematically, as if he was pacing distances to find a buried treasure, he covered the complete surface of the law...

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Write a short story about someone tending to their garden.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 77 stories

“Gardening leave” by Martin Leigh

“Buried Secrets” by Dawn Rae

“This Beautiful Earth” by William Hargrove

“Weeding out the Bad” by Deanna West

“Unraveling History” by Takara B. Naraine

“Earning My Keep” by Dawn Lew

“Anguish in Her Eyes” by F Dalton

“Parties, hook-ups, and the reality of gardening. ” by Mae Dutson

“Gift” by Kelsey Marlett

“Dead Garden” by Thomas Braswell

“Wood and Iron” by Heera A

“Garden Rings” by Tom Beach

“Her” by Emma Lin

“Drake's Garden” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

“Don’t come between a man and his dog” by Bruno Lowagie

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a short story about someone doing laundry.

Write a short story about someone cooking dinner.

Write a short story about someone going to the corner store to buy an everyday item.

Write a short story about someone heading home from work.

Contest #31

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

373

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: