On every side it sat like a lid on the mountains and made of the great valley a closed pot"(260). It seems obvious with this atmosphere, especially with "no sunshine in the valley" would have a negative effect on a person. Another part of the setting that plays an equally important role is the fence that surrounds Elisa's garden. It is a reoccurring symbol that represents the barriers that separate Elisa's garden from her husband and the rest of the world, "he [Henry] leaned over the wire fence that protected her flower garden from cattle and dogs and chickens" (260). These animals represent Henry's world while the garden represents hers. Henry always approaches the fence calmly and carefully never wanting to disrupt his wife's universe. On the other hand, when the man comes over, he is much more confident, "He leaned confidently over the fence" (262). He is the first person who wants to enter her world and later on, she decides to let him in her garden, breaking the barrier that has isolated her from the outside. .
Therefore the man she meets is a very important figure in this story and represents the kind of life Elisa Allen would like to live. He is described as a big, bearded, and graying man with a captivating presence whose eyes are dark. He lives his life on the road, travelling the country and making whatever little money he can from his loyal customers by fixing their pots or knives. He promptly and repeatedly asks her if she has anything he can fix but she refuses the offer every time. He then attempts to charm his potential customer by casually talking about her flowers. As soon as he mentions that he knows someone who might be interested in growing chrysanthemums, Elisa became excited and eager. She talks about them with enthusiasm and starts to feel that she is not as isolated from the world as she thought she was. The fact that others might be interested in her passion for gardening gives her the idea that she may have a distinct role in society and can make a difference even if it is a small one.
