Digest

Flora, a flower farmer, is known for her generosity and love for her flowers. She chats with them as if they were old friends, even though they never talk back. However, one summer, a series of unfortunate weather events decimates her garden, leaving her heartbroken and without a livelihood. A hat peddler, lost and hungry, seeks refuge in Flora's cottage. He offers her a bright yellow hat as a token of gratitude, claiming it will bring her luck if she keeps her ears open. Flora, desperate to revive her garden, collects wildflower seeds. As she admires the golden rods and snap dragons, she is surprised to hear a voice respond to her compliments. The flowers reveal that they can talk, but Flora has never been able to hear them before. The hat, she realizes, is the key to this newfound ability. The flowers tell her about a cedar tree in the mayor's backyard that is in pain because its roots were not removed when the tree was chopped down for a guesthouse. The tree has cast a spell on the mayor's son, making him ill. Flora, determined to help, disguises her voice and pretends to be a fortune teller. The mayor, desperate to cure her son, brings Flora to the sick boy. Flora, using her newfound ability to hear the tree's cries, convinces the mayor to tear down the guesthouse and replant the cedar tree. As the tree is replanted, the boy miraculously recovers, and Flora is rewarded with flower seeds to start her garden anew. Flora's bright yellow hat becomes a symbol of her ability to hear the voices of nature and her willingness to use that power to help others.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction and Announcement

This Chapter introduces Rebecca Sheer, the host of Circle Around, and announces exciting news about the podcast's live tour and the Circle Around Club. It also mentions that this episode is an encore edition, featuring a previously aired story.

00:01:42

Flora and Her Flowers

This Chapter introduces Flora, a flower farmer who loves her flowers and talks to them as if they were old friends. She is generous with her flowers, giving them away freely to those in need. However, a summer of bad weather destroys her garden, leaving her heartbroken and without a livelihood.

00:06:00

The Hat Peddler

This Chapter introduces a hat peddler who seeks refuge in Flora's cottage after losing his way. He offers Flora a bright yellow hat as a token of gratitude, claiming it will bring her luck if she keeps her ears open. Flora, intrigued by the hat, accepts it and sets out to collect wildflower seeds to revive her garden.

00:11:02

The Talking Flowers

This Chapter reveals that Flora's bright yellow hat allows her to hear the flowers talk. The flowers tell her about a cedar tree in the mayor's backyard that is in pain because its roots were not removed when the tree was chopped down for a guesthouse. The tree has cast a spell on the mayor's son, making him ill.

Keywords

Q&A

• What happens to Flora's garden and why?

  Flora's garden is destroyed by a summer of bad weather. It rains for the entire month of June, then it is sunny and hot for the entire month of July, and finally, it is unusually brisk and chilly for the entire month of August. This extreme weather leaves her flowers withered and wilted.

• What does the hat peddler give Flora and what does he say about it?

  The hat peddler gives Flora a bright yellow hat as a token of gratitude. He claims that the hat will bring her luck if she keeps her ears open.

• How does Flora's bright yellow hat change her life?

  The bright yellow hat allows Flora to hear the flowers talk. This newfound ability allows her to help the mayor's sick son by saving a cedar tree that is in pain because its roots were not removed when the tree was chopped down for a guesthouse.

• Why is the mayor's son sick?

  The mayor's son is sick because the cedar tree in her backyard is in pain. The tree was chopped down for a guesthouse, but its roots were not removed. The tree's pain has cast a spell on the boy, making him ill.

• How does Flora help the mayor's son?

  Flora, using her ability to hear the tree's cries, convinces the mayor to tear down the guesthouse and replant the cedar tree. As the tree is replanted, the boy miraculously recovers.

• What does Flora ask for in return for helping the mayor?

  Flora asks for flower seeds so she can start growing her garden again.

• What is the moral of the story?

  The story teaches us that kindness and generosity can be rewarded. It also shows us that listening to nature can lead to unexpected discoveries and opportunities to help others.

Show Notes