I just uploaded a build (v0.31d) which adds the following new features to the Stop and Smell the Flowers demo:
Watering
Water Enhancements
Pulling weeds
Bee Benefits
My hope is that this change will provide a more engaging experience for those who want to play actively, while also giving an extra benefit to idle playstyles.
Watering
Happens when you click on a growing flower in the garden that is currently dry. Watering happens by default when first planting seeds, and can be done again at each growth stage prior to harvest-ready maturity. Each time you water your flower during it growth lifespan, the grow speed increases. You can also pair watering with water enhancements for extra bonuses, giving you up to three water enhancements per flower.
Watering is optional, only providing the speed boost and possible water enhancement when performed. Skipping watering has a benefit of reducing the likelihood of disturbing the bees, and getting a boost from them.
Water Enhancements
Water enhancements are available for purchase in the Shop, are visible in your inventory, and accessible from the bottom of the garden, next to your seeds. You can select an active water enhancement or re-select to disable it. All watering that happens while a water enhancement is active will use one up.
The water enhancements available are:
Speed Grow (increases growth speed) - $10
Mutation Up (increases mutation probability) - $20
Mutation Stop (prevents mutation regardless of other boosts) - $5
Bee Attractor (increases number of bees that will visit your garden while the flower is growing) - $5
All the water enhancements are unlocked from the beginning of the game.
Pulling Weeds
Happens when you click a dandelion weed at any growth stage besides fully grown. Pulled weeds do not go to your inventory, they are destroyed. This can be helpful if you are eager to plant the next thing where a weed sprouted, although then you won't have a dandelion to sell.
Bee Benefits
When bees visit your flowers and are undisturbed by the player, they will leave behind a sparkly aura on the plant plot. This boosts your flowers' growth rate and mutation probability for one flower lifespan per bee visit. This is combined with any benefits from water enhancements and watering your flowers.
There is also now a water enhancement that attracts more bees to your garden prior to the flower reaching harvest-ready maturity. You can also add this bee attractor at every growth stage for a stacked effect.
The bee benefits continue to accumulate on garden plots while the game is left idle, and provide a benefit to a more passive play style.