Ginger Ann sighed dramatically as she sat at her dinning table. Her pastel colored eyes seemed dim and sad as she stared into her cup of tea letting out another long sigh. Her mother studied her from across the table and sat her own cup down. "Now Ginger Ann its not becoming of a young lady to sigh so, what is the matter my dear?" Ginger Ann looked up and meet her mothers bright blue eyes and said "Oh forgive me mother, I didn't mean to be rude. Its just that lately I seem to have lost my touch."

Her mother blinked her eyes and tilting her head to one side said "Oh come now dear, what ever do you mean?" Ginger Ann held her sigh in and said in a woeful voice "My roses seem to be in distress mother. The have turned brown and are withering away. If it goes on much longer I'm afraid I will loose them all together!" Her mother let out a small gasp and said "Oh dear that does sound troubling." Ginger Ann nodded her curled head and said "Yes, its very troubling. I don't know what to do. I've check the soil, and the fertilizer is correct, they don't lack water, and there is plenty of sun."

Her mother blinked and said "Well, there must be something else. Could you have missed something my dear?" Ginger Ann let a frown mar her brow for only a second before responding "I'm sure I checked everything, but there's nothing to due but go check again is there?" so saying she stood up and placed her tea cup on the table before saying "I'll see you when I get home mother dear." Her mother nodded and said "Yes dear, good luck." as Ginger Ann disappeared out the door.

Ginger Ann gathered up her skirt in one silk gloved hand and rushed off. After only half an hour she arrived at the park were she and a few others had established gardens. Making her way threw the park she quickly arrived at her once thriving rose garden. The maze of a garden now held mostly yellowing and browning bushes. Taking a breath she stepped into her garden, and as she made her way to the back were she kept her tools she went over what could be wrong in her head. Its not even close to winter, so they most certainly aren't going into hibernation. The pH is perfect for them, just the way they like it. shaking the last pH test strip she had used she set it aside and continued The sun if full and shining, just like they love it, and the soil is nice and wet still.

She paused as her eyes landed on her dry watering can. Well thats odd I don't remember watering them yesterday either...so why the water? she thought to herself as she looked around her garden. Her pastel eyes widened as she noticed the a small stream of water running under the fence that bordered her garden on one side. Standing up she rushed out of her garden and around to the garden the water seemed to be coming from. Pausing at its entrance she gasped in outrage.

A water hose was on, and just laying there in a puddle in the middle of the empty field. Water ran everywhere leaving the as of yet unplanted garden a soggy muddy mess. Looking about she realized the water must have begun to seep under the fence and over water her poor roses! But who would have done this? And leave a garden in such a mess! It must have been on for days now for it to make this much of a mess. Squaring her shoulders she look around for someone to speak too. Seeing no one she looked across the way to were the hose was attached to its faucet.

Lifting her skirts up she removed her boots from her feet and set them on the ground outside of the mud then she lifted her skirt back up in both hands and set off at a steady pace towards the faucet. She didn't even grimace as her feet sunk into the squishy wet mess her eyes on her prize she made her way slowly but surly. Finally arriving at the faucet she let her skirts fall and turned the nob shutting the valve off. Turning around she nodded satisfied that the hose was indeed off now. Bending down she began to pull the hose too her winding it up expertly as she did.

Walking out of the garden, skirts once more raised to salvage what was left of them anyway, she marched to the center of the park bare feet and all. Reaching it she stood in front of the bulletin board were the various garden keepers left each other messages. Her eyes widened as she read the last message to be posted, apparently a keeper had been thinking of making a Water Lilly garden! Shaking her head Ginger Ann picked up the pencil that was there for this purpose wrote.

Dear Madam

While it is admirable to want to establish a garden, I would dearly appreciate it if you would not leave your water running. It is not only wasteful, but harmful to other gardens. Feel free to come to me for help with your garden, and advise any time you like.

Sincerely Ginger Ann, Keeper of Roses

Satisfied Ginger Ann went back to her garden, and set about to putting out some mulch to absorb some of the water. After she had finished her task she got up and picking up her shoes headed home confident that with a little love, and extra care her roses would be lovely in not time at all.