Bertie and the Gardeners; or, The Way to be Happy

In the quiet village of Woodlawn, the newly finished house of Mr. Curtis stands proudly amid rolling lawns, towering chestnut trees, and a mysterious mound called Peace Mountain. With the estate’s terraces and avenues already in place, the Squire now turns his attention to the fields beyond—preparing a sprawling garden and orchard that will soon bloom with color. He enlists the help of the ever‑curious Bertie and his sister Winifred, whose enthusiasm for the land’s potential matches the Squire’s own vision.

As autumn settles in, Mr. Curtis faces a familiar dilemma: finding a gardener who can blend traditional care with the latest agricultural innovations. While his trusted farmer, Thomas Grant, debates the merits of new machinery, the search for a true lover of flowers and landscape design begins. Through lively conversations and the rustle of turning leaves, Bertie discovers that cultivating a garden is as much about patience, imagination, and community as it is about soil and seeds.