Part 4 On some Saturdays Calli's parents would take her to a local farmers market to sell some of her plants. She used the money to buy garden supplies. One spring day an older man stopped briefly to see her plants for sale. She asked him what his favorite flower was and he said, “Roses.”

“Roses are my favorite too,” she replied. She explained that she was trying to develop a velvety dark pink shade but the bees kept pollinating them into lighter shades. The man told her to keep working on it because he thought she could accomplish her goal.

Several days later she found a cloth bag hanging from the fence. Inside were rose cuttings and a note that said, “Enjoy! Wishing you much happiness. May these roses bring you luck.” It was signed, “S” with no other letters or words.

Calli put the stems into water and then went to the rose garden. She walked around and examined the spacing of each plant, the location of the sun, and where each color of flower was located. Her face showed no emotions until she stood on the side of the garden that faced the Two Way River. A smile crossed her face and she began to clear two spaces for the new plants. Meara the giant ladybug flew over and watched. When the cuttings had been planted Meara sat down nearby and guarded the plants like they were royalty.

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