When Martha returns from a weekend away, she’s furious to find her mother-in-law, Gloria, has destroyed her daughter Amy’s cherished flowerbed, replacing it with tacky garden gnomes. Gloria, who’s never hidden her disdain for Amy, dismisses the garden as unimportant, but Martha decides to teach her a lesson.
Amy had poured months of effort into her garden, creating a space she adored. When Gloria saw it, she mocked it and replaced the flowers with gnomes while Martha was away. Martha, enraged but composed, decides to play along. She agrees to pay Gloria $500 for the gnomes, but when Gloria arrives for dinner, Martha hands her a bill for $1,500, covering the cost of the flowers, compost, and soil testing. Gloria, humiliated, pays up and takes the gnomes back.
Martha explains the situation to Amy, and with the money from Gloria, they rebuild the garden, making it even more beautiful. Amy is thrilled, and the experience strengthens their bond. Gloria, now quieter, has learned not to mess with Martha’s love for her daughter. The garden, restored and thriving, stands as a reminder of the lesson in respect.