u/No-Razzmatazz-6984

I’m looking for an illustrated children’s picture book I read growing up in South Africa (likely published sometime in the 1980s to late 1990’s — could be British, American, Australian or South African).

The story features a young girl whose elderly male neighbour has a garden that is wild, overgrown and “unkempt” by conventional standards — but intentionally so. He welcomes weeds, creepy crawlies and insects rather than trying to get rid of them, and teaches the girl to see the value in what most people would consider a messy garden. I believe at some point he makes tea from nettles.

At some point he gives the girl a seed, which she grows into a plant. I think it might have been an avocado seed, but I’m not 100% certain of that detail.

I think the story ends with the old man dying, leaving the girl with what he taught her and the plant she grew from his seed.

I may be misremembering the title as something like “Mr McGregor’s Garden” — but that’s Beatrix Potter, so I’m likely confusing it. The real title might have featured the old man’s name (e.g. “Mr \\\_\\\_\\\_’s Garden” or similar) but I’m genuinely not sure.

I’m looking for an illustrated children’s picture book I read growing up in South Africa (likely published sometime in the 1980s to late 1990’s — could be British, American, Australian or South African).

The story features a young girl whose elderly male neighbour has a garden that is wild, overgrown and “unkempt” by conventional standards — but intentionally so. He welcomes weeds, creepy crawlies and insects rather than trying to get rid of them, and teaches the girl to see the value in what most people would consider a messy garden. I believe at some point he makes tea from nettles.

At some point he gives the girl a seed, which she grows into a plant. I think it might have been an avocado seed, but I’m not 100% certain of that detail.

I think the story ends with the old man dying, leaving the girl with what he taught her and the plant she grew from his seed.

I may be misremembering the title as something like “Mr McGregor’s Garden” — but that’s Beatrix Potter, so I’m likely confusing it. The real title might have featured the old man’s name (e.g. “Mr \_\_\_’s Garden” or similar) but I’m genuinely not sure.

I’m looking for an illustrated children’s picture book I read growing up in South Africa (likely published sometime in the 1980s to late 1990’s — could be British, American, Australian or South African).

The story features a young girl whose elderly male neighbour has a garden that is wild, overgrown and “unkempt” by conventional standards — but intentionally so. He welcomes weeds, creepy crawlies and insects rather than trying to get rid of them, and teaches the girl to see the value in what most people would consider a messy garden. I believe at some point he makes tea from nettles.

At some point he gives the girl a seed, which she grows into a plant. I think it might have been an avocado seed, but I’m not 100% certain of that detail.

I think the story ends with the old man dying, leaving the girl with what he taught her and the plant she grew from his seed.

I may be misremembering the title as something like “Mr McGregor’s Garden” — but that’s Beatrix Potter, so I’m likely confusing it. The real title might have featured the old man’s name (e.g. “Mr \_\_\_’s Garden” or similar) but I’m genuinely not sure.

I’m looking for an illustrated children’s picture book I read growing up in South Africa (likely published sometime in the 1980s to late 1990’s — could be British, American, Australian or South African).

The story features a young girl whose elderly male neighbour has a garden that is wild, overgrown and “unkempt” by conventional standards — but intentionally so. He welcomes weeds, creepy crawlies and insects rather than trying to get rid of them, and teaches the girl to see the value in what most people would consider a messy garden. I believe at some point he makes tea from nettles.

At some point he gives the girl a seed, which she grows into a plant. I think it might have been an avocado seed, but I’m not 100% certain of that detail.

I think the story ends with the old man dying, leaving the girl with what he taught her and the plant she grew from his seed.

I may be misremembering the title as something like “Mr McGregor’s Garden” — but that’s Beatrix Potter, so I’m likely confusing it. The real title might have featured the old man’s name (e.g. “Mr ___’s Garden” or similar) but I’m genuinely not sure.