The hardy begonias and rudbeckia and salvia were blooming, bumblebees could be found mining the flowers of the late-blooming hostas each morning, and the leaves of the wood poppies had taken on a coppery tinge. All signs pointed to summer vacation winding down.

Mr. Owl had refreshed his classroom (new bunting, new pots for the windowsill plants, a new pouf and a few new books for the reading corner, and a new supply of chalk) and the only thing left to do was organize the closet of hand-me-downs so the first-year students (there were three this year) and anyone who had outgrown last year’s could each choose a new-ish backpack.

(August 2023)

Story © Jennifer Singleton / Read+Purr

This is another vignette in my ongoing series of Tiny Garden Stories: peaceful 1-minute tales, full of cozy vibes, delicious details, and generous dollops of imagination & whimsy. Click one of the first two buttons below to go to (or back to, if that’s where you fell down the rabbit hole) either the Public Garden archive page or (if you’re a Story Club member) to the Private Garden page. Or click the third button to learn more about my Tiny Garden Stories. Want each week’s featured story delivered directly to your inbox? Subscribe to my Substack.