Gillian’s Garden Sign

Gillian and Audrey make a picture sign for Grandma’s carrot bed. They draw an orange carrot on a card. They fix it to a short wooden stick beside the garden path.

After watering the plants, Gillian notices mud on the picture. A splash has covered the bottom of the carrot. The wet part of the card begins to bend.

Audrey tries wiping the mud away. The damp paper begins to rub off too. Grandma suggests a fresh picture instead of scrubbing the damaged card again.

At the potting table, the girls draw another carrot with its leafy top. Gillian checks the size. Can someone beside the path see the bright shape clearly?

Grandma helps them slide the new card inside a clear plastic cover. They fasten it to the stick above the soil. Splashes are less likely to reach the drawing there.

Audrey puts the sign back at the end of the carrot bed. Gillian can point to the picture from the path. She need not step between the growing plants.

Later, Grandpa comes outside and asks where the carrots are growing. The girls show him their sign, and he follows the picture to the correct bed.

They take the damaged paper indoors to put with their recycling. “Our picture had to be easy to see,” says Gillian, “and its new cover will help keep it that way.”