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Stimulating Imagination in the Garden

Submitted by RoseJM on Tue, 08/14/2012 - 08:33
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Building Fairy Houses
By: 
Rose Judd-Murray
Right Side Box: 

 Fairy Houses (The Fairy Houses Series)

 Author: Tracy Kane

 ISBN: 978-0970910458

 

With young children, there are few lazy days of summer. Most days are filled with intense constructive projects from blanket forts to tree houses

With young children, there are few lazy days of summer. Most days are filled with intense constructive projects from blanket forts to tree houses, and from sandcastles to bean teepees. Kids love creating these special spaces.

Beat the Heat: Start Early, End Late

Submitted by RoseJM on Mon, 07/16/2012 - 09:51
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By: 
Rose Judd-Murray, NGA Staff
With the summer temperatures heating up, find safe and fun activities that can still get you and your children outdoors.

It can be difficult to get motivated about maintaining the yard and garden during one of the hottest and driest summer months. There are definite dangers for young children during the most intense temperatures of the day.

Sharing the Love: Spreading Seeds

Submitted by RoseJM on Mon, 06/11/2012 - 00:00
in
By: 
Rose Judd-Murray, NGA Staff
Right Side Box: 

How-To: Make A Seed Bomb

Materials:

  • Clay (purchase at craft stores)
  • Compost or potting soil
  • Seeds (we recommend easy-to-grow or native varieties)

Bring this activity home, or share it in the classroom with these easy step-by-step directions (PDF). »

Follow these step-by-step instructions to make your own seed bombs.

Taking a walk together as a family is a great way to teach your kids about varieties of flowers, shrubs, and trees. It's an unstressful time to engage and allow them to ask questions about their own local environment.

Keeping Pets Safe in the Yard and Garden

Submitted by cynthiad on Wed, 05/16/2012 - 08:39
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By: 
Rose Judd-Murray, NGA Staff
When gardening, we need to remember to keep our children and animals safe.

Wheatgrass and catnip are great options for plants your cat can safely enjoy.As families enjoy their garden together this summer, it’s important to recognize that our families are more than just parents or guardians and children.

The Rain Garden is an Effective Tool

Submitted by cynthiad on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 14:31
in
By: 
Rose Judd-Murray, NGA Staff
Right Side Box: 

A Book for a Rainy Day

Title: The Listening Walk
Author: Paul Showers
Illustrator: Aliki
ISBN: 978- 0064433228

Installing a rain garden in your home landscape can create family interactions.

Teaching Kids about Water Conservation

Submitted by pauls on Tue, 03/06/2012 - 16:15
in
By: 
Paul Simon, Landscape Architect

Did you know there is as much water in the world today as there was millions of years ago? Actually, it is the very same water recycled through the hydrologic cycle. The water you drink or use in your garden today may contain the same molecules our ancestors or even the DINOSAURS once drank.

Growing BIG in the Great Outdoors

Submitted by cynthiad on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 10:12
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By: 
Cynthia Domenghini, NGA Staff
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Bonnie Plants’ Third Grade Cabbage Program is a free program offered to third grade classrooms nationwide. The purpose is to support youth to eat healthy and be garden advocates. To support this purpose, Bonnie Plants offers resources online to help students grow their cabbage. In addition, lesson ideas and recipes are provided along with help for teachers and parents. Visit the Bonnie Plants Cabbage Program website for more details about registration.

You can also view a complete list of the Third Grade Cabbage Program scholarship winners for 2011 for each state. 

Being outside has so much to offer; whether you are a gardener or not, there is a place for you in the Great Outdoors. Each year, thousands of third graders nationwide find a special place outside by participating in a program which challenges them to grow an oversized cabbage.

Planting a Windowsill Herb Garden

Submitted by pauls on Thu, 02/16/2012 - 04:37
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By: 
Paul Simon, Landscape Architect
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Tips for Kids

  1. Learn what conditions each herb prefers. For example, basil prefers warmth, while sage and rosemary like cooler temperatures. Click Here to review additional plant care guides for herbs.
  2. Pinch back branching plants, such as basil, to keep them shrubby rather than leggy.
  3. Choose compact or dwarf varieties.
  4. Leaves receiving enough light will be thick and normal in size. Which window in your house receives at least 5 to 6 hours of daily sunlight?  Keep in mind that insufficient light results in thin, small leaves.
  5. Keep soil moist but not soggy. Pressing your finger into the top inch of potting mix is a good way to check for soil moisture.

Dill can look like fireworks!Growing herbs indoors on a sunny windowsill can provide a convenient source of fresh basil, dill, rosemary,

Cleaning Indoor Air with Plants

Submitted by pauls on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 11:12
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By: 
Paul Simon, Landscape Architect

So it’s the winter season and my kids and I have been thinking about purchasing some new indoor plants to spruce-up the house. Of course instead of having another typical plant shopping trip, I begin thinking about how to make this experience adventurous and educational! This is when I remembered a past article, by Charlie Nardozzi, about a study conducted between NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA).

How to Make a Giant Holiday Wreath

Submitted by pauls on Wed, 12/14/2011 - 16:58
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By: 
Paul Simon, Landscape Architect
Right Side Box: 

Supply List

  • Two 1/2" x 8ft electrical PVC conduit
  • Four 1/2" electrical U-shaped clamps
  • Spool of Garden Twine
  • Deciduous and evergreen cuttings from the yard
  • Suggestions include: Hemlock, taxus, red-twig dogwood, winterberry, and pine.

Assembling two 1/2" electrical conduit pipes will create a 7-foot diameter wreath.

Here's a fun project your kids are sure to enjoy - creating a giant wreath for the holidays!

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Last updated on 06/19/2013