Toshio Mori wrote "Six Rows of Flowers" based on his experience working in his brother's flower shop. The story is about a boy named Tatsuo who is curious and asks lots of questions. His uncle Hiroshi believes experience is the best teacher, so he gives Tatsuo six rows of flowers to care for. Though most of the flowers die, Tatsuo is able to harvest one small bunch. Hiroshi insists Tatsuo keep the plants and sell the flowers, earning money he can spend or save as he chooses. The story shows Hiroshi's patience and belief that even children can learn through experiences.

1. SIX ROWS OF FLOWERS
Meet The Author
Toshio Mori (1910~1980) grew up in California. He has written
hundreds of stories. Most of them are about his experiences as a Japanese
American. Mori worked for many years in a flower shop owned by his
brothers. You can see how that led him to write “Six Rows of Flowers.”
Mori’s most famous book is Yokohama, California, a collection of short
stories.
Summery:
Tatsuo’s uncle Hiroshi wanted Tatsuo to learn through experience,
Hiroshi believes that experience is a good teacher. He gave Tatsuo six
rows of pompons to take care of. And Tatsuo learnt everything with what
his uncle said. But most of his flowers had died. So Tatsuo’s father
wanted to cut down his flower rows and burn them. Tatsuo's uncle said to
let Tatsuo's plants stay. Even though Tatsuo had only reap one bunch of
flowers, he could still take that money and do anything he wanted.
Because this is an experience for him.
Plot analysis
Rising action:
1. Tatsuo asked a lot of questions. Toshio Mori told his uncle “ We must
do something about this. We can’t spend our time continually
answering little Tatsuo questions.” And his uncle said, “yes, we’ll let
little Tatsuo learn through experience. Experience is a good teacher.”
2. Tatsuo's uncle gave six rows of pompons to Tatsuo to take care of
them. 3. Tatsuo's uncle tough Tatsuo how to take care of the flowers such
as
spray bugs, pull out the weeds, how to check the moisture in the soil…
etc. and his uncle told him that when he have enough flowers to make a
big bunch, they will sell them for him at the flower market.
4. A few of the plants in the six rows of flowers survived. But most of the
plants had died before the cool weather arrived. Some died because the
earth was too dry. Some were killed by the gopher. And some were

2. crushed by the tall weeds that were growing everywhere. When
Tatsuo’s father saw, he wanted to cut down the flower rows and burn
them. But Tatsuo's uncle said to let Tatsuo's plants stay.
Climax:
Little Tatsuo had just enough flowers to make one bunch. But his
uncle helped him to sold the flowers, and Tatsuo earned the money.
Tatsuo’s father hope Tatsuo save his money but his uncle said to let him
spend it and enjoy his money.
Resolution:
Tatsuo's uncle, Toshio, and Tatsuo’s father said “Tatsuo is probably the
worse gardener in the world.”
Characterization:
Tatsuo: a little boy who loved to ask and is curious.
Hiroshi: foresight, wisdom and bold.
Moral of the story:
Hiroshi was the man with patience and tolerance. He believes even
a child can learn something difficult. But they need to accumulate
experience.
Student opinion:
We can not limited the ability of human, even if it is a child. That
is why when we want to do something, we cannot do our best, it is
because that we have always limited ourselves.