A Garden Wheel

My plush paws were ready for fresh air, so I slipped out the front door and strolled along the sunny sidewalk to the flower shop. Near the wooden outdoor cart, three fallen flower stems—a velvety orange marigold, a sprig of purple statice, and a broad green ivy leaf—had drifted apart on the weathered wooden slats. I stepped up close and gently nudged them with both paws. Curling the flexible ivy stem into an open loop, I guided the marigold and statice to tuck their stems through the curl, holding each other firm. They formed a peaceful little wreath that stayed perfectly still in the breeze.