The Gardening Gnome

Lily Fairfield is a gnome who enjoys working in her garden and growing fruits and vegetables to sell. She also sells honey from her bees, cheese from her milk goats, and eggs from her hens. She enjoys her quiet lifestyle and was not happy when the witch showed up and asked Lily to teach her daughter about plant care and the use of herbs. The first lesson on garden care does not go well. The young witch loses her necklace with magical charm. Retrieving it sends Lily, her faithful cat, and the young witch on a quest involving fairies, trolls, and Wiccans. It is a delightful tale of adventure and lessons in plant care and herbal uses and preparation.

It is the story of a gnome, Lily Fairfield, who enjoys her life of tending to her vegetable garden, peach orchard, goats, and hens. One day a witch arrives and requests Lily to teach her young daughter about plant care and the use and preparation of herbs. The first lesson involves the boring task of weeding the herb bed. The young witch wanders off and observes a human trying to cast spells. She loses her necklace with its magical charm which is found by the human. The witch charges Lily with relocating the charm. With the young witch, a helpful fairy, and Lily's tabby cat, Lily must go on a quest and fight off trolls, befuddle Wiccans, and teach the young witch about life and the preparation and uses of herbs.

Kristine Brooks is a retired teacher who spends her time working in her garden and tending to her three dogs and three cats. She earned her doctorate in education, was awarded a federal grant on ESL education, and taught middle school and high school science for forty years. She is, also, an award winning poet. Kristine lives with her husband of fifty years near a small lake in east Texas.