The Lost Dahlia

"The Lost Dahlia" by Mary Russell Mitford is a quaint story set in the early 1800s, full of affection for gardens and personal gardening stories. The book, told in a light-hearted way, shows how much people can care about nature, especially flowers. The main character tells about often losing things, and this leads to the main story: the disappearance of her favorite dahlia, Phoebus. She looks everywhere for it, even visiting big gardens, but can't find it. Just when she's about to give up, she finds Phoebus growing in a pile of manure in her father's field, in a funny twist. This charming story emphasizes how strongly the main character feels about her flowers and shows that gardening can bring unexpected surprises and the need to keep trying.