Some of our neighbors on this lane are especially kind and thoughtful. For example, whenever Jean and I are out of town, Mrs. Hou and Ms. Wenli kindly help take care of our front yard garden. If any important mail or packages arrive, one of them will receive and hold them for us. And of course, Jean is always happy to do the same for them in return.
Not long ago, Mrs. Hou—who has been living alone most of the time since her husband became seriously ill and was moved to a nursing home or hospital—went abroad for a short sightseeing trip. Before she left, she sincerely asked Jean to water her cherished flowers every day. Naturally, Jean kept her promise. Each morning, she would give the plants a good spray, and if she noticed any leaves beginning to wither, she’d return in the afternoon to give them a little more water.
I smiled and teased her, saying, “Don’t get those plants drunk! Too much water can hurt them too!” But Jean always replied, “No cursing! I just want Mrs. Hou’s flowers to grow well. She’s definitely a flower lover—can’t you tell?” And Jean was right. Our neighbor, whose gate is just across from ours, truly loves flowers. Whatever she plants, she tends to with genuine care and affection.
The problem now is that Mrs. Hou has been admitted to the hospital. She may need to undergo a major operation and will likely stay there for several days. Meanwhile, Jean and I are heading to Hualien tomorrow and plan to stay for a whole week. This time, neither we nor Mrs. Hou can look after each other’s “private gardens.”
Still, the pictures below show just how beautiful Mrs. Hou’s flowers looked over the past few days.
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相關文章 (See also)：
1) （家附近的）花樹 / 花草 (2022)
2) Beautiful Things Around Us! (2021)
3) From the Front Yard to the Central Ridge (2020)
4) 鄰居的小花園～Blooming at the Doorstep (2025)
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