ALL STORIES➡

Ana has a little garden. She waters the plants every day. She also cuts off dry leaves and picks out pretty flowers. Sometimes, she spots butterflies flying around. When she wraps up, she sits down on a bench and soaks up the sun. She’s really happy with her garden.

Ana takes care of her garden with love. Every morning, she waters the flowers and pulls off wilted leaves. She also plants new seeds and watches them come up. Sometimes, she picks aromatic herbs to use in her cooking. After working, she sits down to rest and listens to the birds singing away. She absolutely loves gardening.

Ana has turned her garden into a lively little space. Every week, she trims back the bushes and adds fertilizer to the soil to keep her plants in good shape. She loves watching seasonal flowers come up. She also grows tomatoes and basil to use in the kitchen. In the afternoons, she waters everything carefully and checks for pests. For her, gardening is super therapeutic.

Ana has gotten pretty good at gardening. She’s figured out how to balance water and sunlight for each plant. She grows veggies and wildflowers, making sure the soil holds on to its nutrients. She loves picking fresh herbs to make herbal teas. She also uses natural ways to keep pests away without messing with the ecosystem. For her, the garden is a kind of sanctuary where she can kick back and unplug from everyday stress.

Ana sees her garden as a living lab. She tries out different sustainable growing methods, from composting to crop rotation. She spends time looking into soil quality and how the weather affects her plants. She also sets up areas with pollinator-friendly flowers to draw in bees. While taking care of her garden, she thinks about how important it is to protect biodiversity—even in the middle of the city.

Ana looks at gardening through both an ecological and philosophical lens. She thinks about how farming has changed over time and how garden design can affect people’s well-being. She studies up on permaculture and brings regenerative ideas into her little veggie garden. While working the soil, she wonders how being close to nature might shift the way people see the balance between progress and sustainability.

SPEAKING PRACTICE – PHOTO DESCRIPTION – Model answers (A1–C2)

🟢 A1

This is a man. He is in a garden.

He is wearing a hat and blue clothes.

He is using a tool to work with the flowers.

There are many colorful flowers and plants.

The weather is sunny.

🟡 A2 (Elementary)

In this picture, we can see a man gardening in a beautiful place.

He is wearing a straw hat and a white shirt with blue overalls.

There are many different flowers, and the man is planting something.

There are also garden tools and a watering can near him.

It looks like a nice and quiet day.

🟠 B1 (Intermediate)

The image shows a man working in a vibrant and colorful garden.

He appears to be planting flowers, using a small shovel.

There are several gardening tools, like a watering can and pots, scattered around.

He is kneeling on the path, surrounded by bushes and blooming plants.

The weather looks warm and pleasant, and the place seems peaceful, perfect for relaxing.

🔵 B2 (Upper-Intermediate)

This illustration portrays a man gardening in an exceptionally well-kept and colorful space.

He is concentrating on planting or taking care of a flower, suggesting he enjoys this activity.

He is surrounded by a wide variety of flowers, arranged in an aesthetically pleasing layout.

The garden itself seems to be part of a larger, landscaped park, as we can see trees, trimmed bushes, and a bench in the background.

Overall, the image conveys a sense of tranquility and satisfaction, perhaps showing gardening as a hobby that brings calm and joy.

🟣 C1 (Advanced)

This image presents a serene moment in a lush, meticulously designed garden, where a man is engaged in the act of gardening, seemingly with focus and care.

His kneeling posture, combined with the presence of tools and potted plants, suggests he’s in the process of cultivating or replanting.

The diversity and symmetry of the flowers indicate not only aesthetic planning, but also a deep appreciation for nature and manual work.

The atmosphere is one of calm productivity, and the scene might symbolize how people seek solace or mindfulness through physical tasks.

From the overall mood, the man appears to be enjoying a moment of solitude and connection with nature.

🔴 C2 (Proficient)

This richly illustrated scene captures a contemplative instance of human interaction with nature, portraying a man immersed in gardening amidst a breathtakingly arranged floral landscape.

The visual composition, with its burst of symmetrical colors and soft lighting, evokes not just a love of plants but an embrace of therapeutic solitude and personal agency.

His deliberate, grounded posture reflects intentionality and care, transforming a simple act like planting into a metaphor for nurturing growth and stability in life.

The image subtly explores the intersection of routine and mindfulness, where repetitive tasks like gardening become a meditative practice.

Personally, I interpret the scene as an artistic celebration of quiet labor and emotional grounding through nature, something increasingly relevant in our fast-paced lives.

SPEAKING PRACTICE – PHOTO COMPARISON – Model answers (A1–C2)

🟢 A1 – Beginner

In the first picture, one person is working in the garden.
In the second picture, two people are in a greenhouse.

They are with plants.

Both pictures are about gardening.
I like the garden.

🟡 A2 – Elementary

In picture one, a man is planting flowers in a garden.
In picture two, a man and a woman are watering and holding plants.

The first picture is outside, and the second picture is inside.
Both are taking care of plants, but the places are different.

🟠 B1 – Intermediate

Both images show gardening, but in different settings.
In the first picture, the man is working alone outdoors, surrounded by many flowers.
In the second, two people are inside a greenhouse, working together.

The first picture feels quiet and peaceful, while the second looks more like a professional place.
I think I would prefer the garden because I like being outside.

🟣 B2 – Upper-Intermediate

These two pictures represent gardening in different contexts.
The first shows a solitary gardener in a colorful garden, probably doing it as a hobby.
The second one shows a man and a woman collaborating in a greenhouse, possibly as part of a job or project.

While both are caring for plants, the outdoor setting offers more contact with nature, and the greenhouse provides control and efficiency.
Each has its advantages, but I would choose the garden for its peaceful atmosphere.

🔵 C1 – Advanced

The images illustrate two contrasting gardening environments.
The first highlights individual leisure and personal connection to nature, as the gardener works alone, surrounded by natural beauty.
The second conveys teamwork and structure, as the couple works in a more controlled, urban setting.

Both scenes reflect dedication to plant care, but they differ in mood, scale, and intention.
The garden scene feels intimate and calming, while the greenhouse seems productive and purposeful.

🔴 C2 – Proficient

These images present complementary perspectives on the practice of gardening.
The outdoor gardener embodies solitary, mindful engagement with nature, emphasizing a personal ritual of cultivation and reflection.
By contrast, the greenhouse scene suggests collaborative care in a structured environment, possibly oriented toward urban sustainability or commercial production.

Though both settings celebrate the nurturing of life, they diverge in rhythm and intention—one slow and introspective, the other coordinated and goal-driven.
Each highlights how humans relate to nature, either as a form of escape and stillness or as a productive, shared responsibility.

Taking Care of a Garden – Bilingual English Listening Practice (A1–C2)