“It’s summer and I’m so glad I have two apprentices to help me because the number of patients have multiplied,” said Dr Trish to Old Rex as they sat at the Orange Orchard.

“Hello Dr Trish. Good evening, Old Rex Sir,” Din Din said politely. It was his duty to overlook the maintenance of the stepwell which had been built for the dinosaur community at the orchard.

“Hello Din Din,” greeted Old Rex kindly. “It’s always a pleasure to see you volunteering here at the stepwell. The Orange Orchard has become such a hive of activity in the evenings as the females come to collect water and the younger dinosaurs accompany them and end up playing with each other.”

Din Din smiled as he looked at the happy laughter and animated chatter echoing in the orchard. In the past, the Orange Orchard was only used for meetings of adult dinosaurs or fairs but now it was open to all.

“Din Din, you’re just the creature I wanted to see,” Dr Trish said. “There are so many patients coming to me for stomach related problems. It’s this summer heat. It makes things go bad and creates stomach infections.”

“Yes, there are many students at the Terrestrial School who have been falling sick too due to tummy aches,” shared Din Din.

“Well, out of all the tonics I have prescribed for the tummy pain, the most effective has been the natural remedy of mint leaves,” Dr Trish revealed.

“I have mint growing in my garden,” Din Din said. “I also have a plant growing outside my clinic and that’s what I use. But the problem is that mint leaves wilt very fast so they need to be picked and consumed fast. And I also feel that if all the creatures had mint growing in a pot outside their own houses it would be so easy for them to just pluck a few leaves and chew them, instead of wasting their time and energy to see a doctor,” Dr Trish stated.

“Yes, that would be a good idea,” Din Din agreed. “But how can I be of help?”

“I want to make the mint plant available in every household! Not just for the dinosaurs in Fruit Park but for all the creatures of D’Land,” the doctor shared.

“I can plant multiple pots of mint,” suggested Din Din.

“But that still might not be enough,” Dr Trish interrupted.

“I could take help from other gardeners. There’s Burrow the rabbit. And also Flame the flamingo,” Din Din offered.

“That’s a good idea too. But what if we had the three of you give workshops to groups of creatures which could instruct them to plant mint leaves in any part near their homes,” Dr Trish said in her focused manner.

“That ‘does’ sound practical,” Din Din said.

“Let’s call a meeting of all the leaders and healers in D’Land as well as all you gardeners with a green thumb,” Dr. Trish said. Not one to waste any time, she added. “How about tomorrow? I’ll send a pigeon to others. I’d like to request you to invite Burrow and Flame to attend.”

Din Din nodded his agreement and took his leave. His first stop was Burrow’s garden and the rabbit was enthusiastic about the venture. “I’m so glad that gardening is something which will be taken up by many rather than just a few.”

But Flame was a hard nut to crack because he was a recluse. “I would love to help. Take as many mint saplings you need from my garden but I never leave my sanctuary, Din Din.”

“Yes, I know that but I thought that for a cause so big — which is the health of the creatures of D’Land — you would agree to come. You are the greatest expert on botany in our part of the world,” Din Din pleaded.

Flame looked at Din Din thoughtfully as if turning the idea around in his head, “Well, if you put it that way.”

So the next evening, a solemn congregation was held at the Aquatic School premises where the leaders of D’L, and Wiz Rooster, Olly the octopus, Old Rex and Dr Trish along with the healers of D’Land and their apprentices sat before a panel of gardeners. It was Dr Trish who briefed the gathering about the ‘Mint in your Backyard’ Drive.

Flame the flamingo addressed the gathering, “I am honoured to be part of this initiative where we are encouraging creatures to take their health in their own hands.”

“Not only do mint leaves help relieve indigestion and cure stomach cramps but also help keep one alert,” Dr Owl added. “My idea is that every Sunday, the three gardeners here conduct workshops in different parts of D’Land on how to grow mint in your backyards. You could have a practical demonstration and even sell some mint saplings to get started,”Dr Trish shared.

“I’d like to thank you Dr Trish for including us all in this wonderful initiative to improve our health,” Wiz Rooster expressed gratefully.

“We need to share information and ideas to make life easier for us all,” Dr Trish said with a smile. “As leaders that is our duty.”

“And it is our duty to play our part by sharing our expertise,” said Din Din solemnly.

So, on the coming Sunday with a pounding heart, Din Din addressed a gathering of dinosaurs in his neighbourhood where he explained the easiest and quickest way to plant mint. Boris the bear, who was one of Dr Trish’s apprentices, then elucidated on the benefits of chewing on a few mint leaves after a meal. “You can also boil it to make a refreshing tea,” he added. “The aroma is soothing and fragrant and the herb is packed with nutrients.”

That evening at the lakeside, Din Din excitedly told his best friends, Dazel and Delma, about his workshop. “It was so overwhelming to share all I knew about gardening and knowing how it could benefit others was an incredibly satisfying feeling.”

“Burrow the rabbit also conducted a demonstration on how to grow mint leaves at the lakeside,” Delma shared. “I’m going to start growing a patch near the Aquatic School because mint grows well on lake banks as well.”

“Here’s to looking after our health,” said Dazel, as she raised a plum she was chewing on.

“And to living in such a wonderful community life in D’Land,” added Delma.

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