_A bit of levity never hurt anyone--even a science fiction editor, writer or reader, we hope. And a laugh has been known to lighten a heavy load and even change the path of history. So--we give you this brief moment with an amazed scientist and his startling creations--for a brief chuckle. _ such blooming talk _by ... L. Major Reynolds_ Henderson's lovely flowers were going to bring him fame--until they walked and talked too much. The ringing of the door bell cut into Henderson's concentration and hemade a gesture of irritation with one outflung hand. But he didn't raisehis head or shift his eyes one iota from the tiny green thing on hislaboratory table. Tensely absorbed, he stood watching the small miraclehe had made and emotion approaching exultation gripped him. He slid one hand toward a switch, never moving his eyes from the table. The infinitesimal movement of his hand increased the power throb in themachine at his side so imperceptibly that only he could be aware of it. Suddenly his breath exploded in what was almost a squeal of delight. The small green plant on the table was with great effort extending apair of tiny rootlets and was trying to use them to walk! As Henderson watched, spellbound, the sudden cessation of the doorbell'sring went unnoticed. He stood there, willing with every cell of his bodythe miracle that would make that small shred of green take the firstvital step. Slowly, slowly it struggled to an upright position, stood wavering. Henderson increased the power with a trembling hand and almost forgot tobreathe as he waited for the miracle which followed. Several more rootlets abruptly appeared, and now the plant balanceditself easily on the bare table. Then slowly, as a long minute passed, one of the roots made an uncertain step, then another and another, untilit was walking unsteadily across the surface of the table! Henderson, his face--even his lips--white with excitement, now reachedfor another switch. Before turning it on he adjusted a tiny microphoneon the edge of the table. Then he turned the screw switch ... Instantaneously the laboratory was filled with a rustling. Then therecame a series of tiny squeaks that sounded strangely like a voicespeaking. Henderson sat spellbound, watching, listening ... The door bell rang again, but this time he didn't even hear it. Nothingcould break the spell which held him in his seat before the firsttalking and walking plant the world had ever known. He picked up an alternate phase microphone and spoke into it. His voiceissued from a tiny speaker beside the plant as a small whisper ofitself. "Man!" his voice whispered, "Man!" He nearly yelled his delight as thesmall green thing echoed the word! He shut off the mike, then, and got busy. He sat down and began to plana vocabulary to educate his plant. When that was done he would stun theworld with a demonstration of his genius ... It was some time before he realized there was a ghost of a voice comingfrom someplace in the room. He looked at the plant on the table, but itwas standing quiescent. Henderson stared around the laboratory, frowning. Then a movement at thewindow caught his eye. His mother's prize geranium was struggling to free itself from the soilin the window box! And it was muttering! Henderson blushed as he madeout some of the words the flower was muttering. That plant had been inthe room with him during some of his most dismal scientific failures, and it evidently had a good memory. He watched wild-eyed as the plantstruggled to lift its roots from the earth ... One root finally came loose with an audible POP, accompanied by asqueaking streak of profanity. Another and another root worked free, andsuddenly the geranium was standing on the edge of the box. Its brightred blossom turned from side to side. There were no eyes visible butHenderson had the chilly feeling that the flower was surveying the room. Then, after a moment, the plant jumped to the sill of the window, fromthere to the seat of a chair. Then it slid down one of the legs of thechair to the floor. It shook its leaves, lifted its blossom upward at the amazed Hendersonfrozen in his chair, and the tiny squeaking voice said cheerily, "Hi, Pal!" Then it started walking across the floor, toward the door, muttering, "Somebody's got to answer that damned door bell. " Henderson's legs came unfroze as it went through the doorway and he madea wild dash after the walking geranium. It was padding down the hall, its roots making little patting sounds on the linoleum as he passed it. Henderson opened the door, and only then did he begin to realize thescope his rays must have! He stood, jaws agape, looking down at the rose-bush which stood outsidethe door. His mouth opened and words tried to come out. But the bushspoke first. "I've been ringing this bell for hours, " it said petulantly. "Some nastyboys have been picking my roses and I'm getting sore!" Henderson fainted then, and the last thing he remembered was the voiceof the geranium saying: "Hi, Babe, come on in. I been watching _you_ for a long time!" Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from _Fantastic Universe_ March 1954. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U. S. Copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and typographical errors have been corrected without note.