Tall buildings and lots of traffic, New York was so unlike the country, that Lacey was finding it difficult to get used to. Now instead of a house, they were living in an apartment. She missed having a yard, where she could plant things and watch them grow.

“Better get a move on, or you’ll be late for school,” warned her mother. 

Lacey stashed the books into her bag and swung it onto her shoulder. 

"I miss home," she said, “and my friends."

“This is your home now,” replied her mother, “and you'll soon make new friends. It's a big adjustment, honey. You just have to be patient."

Lacey shrugged, unconvinced. "I wish we were still on the farm."

"We all do, Lacey. But the farm had been losing money for years. So when Daddy was offered a good paying job in the city, we just couldn't turn it down."

"Do you think he could maybe buy back the farm? You know when he saves up enough money?"

"We'll see. Meantime we have to make the best of things. I know you'll get to like it here, if you just give it a chance."

"I am trying, Mom. I do like it that the shops are so close and the library."

"That's right; you can walk over to them in 5 minutes. Talking of which, I'll meet you at the Soda Fountain on the corner after school."

That night Lacey wrote a long letter to Gillian, her best friend. It was the only contact she had with her old home. I miss the grass and the flowers, she wrote in extra big letters, where we live now, there isn't a park for miles. 

Lacey's bedroom was crowded with so many plants it looked like a greenhouse. She planned to be a botanist when she grew up. Lacey watered her plants, spritzed them, and moved them as close to the window as she could. But there just wasn’t enough light to keep them healthy. Not like in the country.

She spoke of this in class one day, when they were writing an essay on their favourite hobby. “I’m scared I might lose them all,” she said.

“I’d like to help,” offered Una. She was a tiny girl, who reminded Lacey of an elf. They often walked to and from school together. Una lived with her grandmother in the building opposite Lacey’s.

“Thanks, but I doubt you’d get any more light than me,” replied Lacey doubtfully.

Una smiled in a secretive sort of way. “Come and see me on Saturday,” she invited.

“Can I go? “ Lacey asked her mother. “Una might look after some of my plants for me.”

“Just as long as you’re extra careful crossing the road.” 
Una lived on the top floor. It was five flights up and Lacey was puffing by the time she reached her door. “You should have taken the elevator," said her grandmother. "Come and have some lemonade." She introduced herself as Ida Krupp. “We have a very nice view up here.”

“We can see right over to the Statue of Liberty,” said Una, and she pointed out the landmark to Lacey. “Did you know it was built as a lighthouse?”

Lacey shook her head. 

“They just couldn’t get the lights bright enough so it was closed down.”

“I hear you love plants,” said Mrs.Krupp. “Well you’ve come to the right place.”

Lacey glanced around her. She couldn’t see a single plant, except for a tiny African violet on the table. Seeing her puzzlement, Mrs.Krupp laughed. “Follow me,” she said. “We’ve kept you in suspense long enough.”

They climbed a short flight of stairs, which led onto the roof. Mrs.Krupp opened the door and then stood aside to allow Lacey to pass. There spread before her was one of the most beautiful gardens she had ever seen.

“…Why it’s lovely,” Lacey gasped, trying hard to take it all in at once. There were roses, foxgloves, laurel and lavender. And there were birds too, thrushes and finches hopping around the honeysuckle. “It’s like a fairyland.”

“Come here anytime,” invited Mrs.Krupp, “and bring your plants.”

“If you like, you can help us with the gardening,” said Una. “It’s a lot of work for us, isn‘t it granny?”

“Oh I’d love to,” nodded Lacey, already planning inside her head where she would plant her umbrella fern. It needed lots of moisture, but wasn’t so fussy about light. So perhaps right over there by the magnolia…

Lacey could hardly wait to get home and tell her mother the good news. This, she decided, wasn’t such a bad place after all.