My Trade? A Gardener?
You might have thought that I am a gardener, but you would be wrong. In fact no one in the family has the necessary patience or skill to be a gardener. So why am I sitting here looking pleased as punch, with a row of potted flowers in front of me. Well it is a convoluted story, but I will try to bring enlightenment to what is in reality, a dark tale.
I was born in 1948 and grew up in poverty. My parents had little money and food was always short. But love was not. They sacrificed every thing in a attempt to give me a good education. In the end I went to my nations top university. Now I head up one of the countries top experimental laboratories. Money is no problem, as long as I succeed. I always thought that my work would serve humanity. But now I understand my folly. For the gene that I transferred into the rice plant, has caused a horrific mutation. Now the whole world starves. Only flowers thrive.
Great response Michael, liked where you took me.
It is strange sometimes what a prompt photo delivers. Thank you for your kind feedback.
Great story, Michael!
Thank you Rosemary, this story surprised me, I set out to write something quite different.
This is brilliant in its simplicity.
What a lovely comment. The prompt photograph surprised me, and the resulting story surprised me too.
Whoops. Sometimes science shouldn’t mess with nature, especially with such a drastic outcome. Great take.
Thank you Iain, I loved the prompt, it worked well for me.
Great story Mike! That’s genetic modification for you! It could go wrong – and it did!
Thank you PJ.
Well that’s horrible. GMOs and all that.
Thank you James
This is what happens when science messes with Nature. Great story, Michael.
Thank you Neel. Science offers so much, but sometimes the risks are great.
Is this a prediction for the future? Scary picture you paint here. Brrrr!!
I certainly hope not; although it seems to me that some species of plants have been changed and no longer thrive or reproduce as they once did.
A world with only flowers would make it picture perfect to say the least. Brilliant take on the prompt, Michael.
Thank you salaja. At least some flowers are edible, plus we would need to look after the oceans of our world, so that we might harvest more sea weed!
Playing with Nature is great folly! We may seem to be winning to begin with; only to realise the great loss at a time when we had crossed the point of return!
A subtle message from an eye opening tale.
-Anagha from Team MocktailMommies
http://mocktailmommies.blogspot.in/2017/09/after-relocating-to-country-sideour.html?m=1
I feel it is likely that nature will always respond forcefully. So pleased to get your feedback. Thank you.
I so liked how you used the flowers in your story The Potted Garden to bring home to your readers the sadness of loss.
Well that was a fun/doom/fun/doom roller coaster:)
It is certainly a roller coaster that I hope humanities does not come across, thanking you for your comment.