‘Springtime in the Flower Chamber’ Struggles to Create Pretty Gardens

Springtime in the Flower Chamber asks you to plant beautiful gardens to appease a strange being. But what happens when you’re not able to do that?

Once you’ve signed a mysterious contract, you’re brought into a tiny room. More like a cell, except for the flowery wallpaper, I guess. You’ve got a pale, shirtless guest in there with you. They want to help you create a garden in this tight, uncomfortable place. Adding a little beauty couldn’t hurt. However, when you go to plant your own flowers, all you can find are these dull gray ones. You’re free to plant them however you like, but the results feel ashen and bleak. Your roommate isn’t too thrilled with your skills, either.

Try as you might, it’s hard to create something truly beautiful in this place. It doesn’t help that the other person continually berates you for being unable to do it. He seems to enjoy tearing you down. Saying others did this much easier. That you’re getting an unfair advantage when you’re actually given the same colorful flowers other people seem to be using. That this shouldn’t be that hard. It’s a relentless look at the ‘support’ many people get when they come looking for guidance to try something they want to do when they may need a bit more help than others. Or, when their own resources and tools aren’t as nice of those wealthier and more privileged than they are.

Springtime in the Flower Chamber reminds me of all the backhanded compliments and ‘tough love’ I’ve heard over the years from folks who think their nastiness is helpful, somehow. It’s a bleak experience, in that regard, but a part of me still enjoyed my wilted garden despite what the awful man told me about it. Maybe that’s the thing for me to take away from this work? That sometimes, finding my own worth despite the terrible people around me is what I need to strive towards.

Springtime in the Flower Chamber is available now on itch.io.