Dandelion leaves and going home.......

Hortensia was up early, she had chosen a particularly sprightly looking daisy to put in the button hole of Archibold's jacket, and now found herself staring into a buttercup just to revel in the incredible shiny yellowness. 'I wonder if the humans have noticed that the daisies are particularly big this year' she thought as she started her wander back home.

After much debate the gnomes had decided not to worry about humans noticing their houses or indeed front doors. They had however persuaded Aunt Mildred to let her mint garden grow in a more random and wild manner. As Aunt Mildred's and Uncle Humperdinck's home was near one of the human's paths - rows of neatly cultivated mint of different varieties - however jungle-like. might have aroused curiosity. So now Aunt Mildred's prized collection of mint ( all of course grown for the making of her renowned mint humbugs) was beginning to grow into a very wild garden and as she frequently said, 'looked a right mess'.

Gnome homes are always very well hidden and disguised in the natural features of the trees where they are built, so as to be harmonious with their surroundings. Gnomes love a proper front door with a solid door knocker, but of course a curtain of ivy or other greenery artfully disguising the entrance, makes seeing one if you are a human, nearly impossible.

Hortensia hummed a little song as she hurried back, for it was almost time for breakfast and she was looking forward to making a tasty dandelion leaf omelette for her friends and family. Eleanora and Hector had been out for an early morning walk too and had collected some watercress from the stream. Hector was beginning to pine for his city home. He missed his human and going for motorbike rides, most of all he missed his balcony garden and checking on all the parks and gardens in his area.

Eleanora put her arm though his as they walked along, 'why don't you go home Hector, you have made a big difference here and the forest is safe now. You can always come back in a little while and check on how things are developing.' Hector looked at her in relief, 'how did you know? Would it be alright? I don't want to let the others down.' Eleanora smiled at her brother,' Of course it is, you could even take Stephanotis and Archibold on a visit to show them city life.'

For the first time in a few weeks, Hector felt a tingle of excitement in his toes, he instantly knew that it was time for him to go home. 'Oh Eleanora, what a wonderful idea!' and with that he rushed off to ask his two friends to come with him on a grand escapade to the city.

Eleanora smiled to herself, she would spend a while longer with the Forest gnomes, then she too would go back to the wild freedom of her home, in the Great Trees of the North.