The Mushroom Picker

The Mushroom Picker.

You wouldn’t know it when you first caught a glimpse of the old house. On the outside it didn’t really look that remarkable. It was only when you ventured outside into the gardens that the true beauty of the place could be seen.

Beatrix the rabbit lived in the broken greenhouse that was hidden behind overgrown buddleia and brambles. She spent her days collecting and foraging tasty treats from the beautiful garden. Blackberries, redcurrants, dandelion roots and mushrooms. They all grew around her in abundance. When her basket was full, she would take all the treasure back to her little home and light her stove.

Every other little creature in the garden knew that Beatrix was the best cook. Each evening they would gather on the lawn outside her greenhouse and wait patiently, breathing in all the delicious smells that drifted their way.

Before long, Beatrix spreads a picnic blanket out over the grass and lays all the marvellous food out for her friends to share with her. Dandelion bread and blackberry jam, mushrooms fried with thyme and butter, steaming carrot and squash soup and strawberry wine.

As the sun goes down, they eat and drink together and smell the sweet lavender and peonies that grow all around them. Life is simple but it is good.