Garden Projects Web Sites 2008 Garden Events Books

Garden Projects


Suggestions for Gardening with Children
Gardening with children can be rewarding for adults and fun for the children. In an article appearing in the Richmond Times Dispatch, Beth Monroe of the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden included several suggestions:
1.  Give children their own area and forget about perfection!
2.  Keep chores to a minimum and give them kid-size tools; sometimes, even a spoon is sufficient.
3.  Take a childs natural interest in playing in the dirt and direct it toward an appreciation of the plant world.

Best Plants for Children
The education manager at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Nancy Ross Hugo, suggests the following "Best Plants for Children" because they are easily started from seed and can be planted in containers are:
 
Cherry Tomatoes (Solanum)--germinate quickly, are edible and show children how food is grown, important for some children who see them only in grocery stores neatly packaged.

Hyacinth Vine (Dolichos lablab)--colorful, grows fast and has lovely purple flowers along with interesting maroon bean pods. The hyacinth bean is called "pigs' ears" in China because of the shape of its flowers. It has been used for food in some cultures, but is mostly grown as an ornamental plant. It is an annual in Virginia and can grow 8-12 feet long, blooming well into fall.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)--Best grown in containers as it can take over a garden. A vigorous perennial herb with a pleasing lemon scent, it has been used for culinary, cosmetic and medicinal purposes through the ages. It is attractive to honeybees and bee keepers sometimes rub the leaves inside a hive to persuade a swarm to settle in. It is a native of southern Europe and northern Africa. Easily grown but it needs good drainage.
 
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)--More than a granish, this herb has wonderful qualities and a rich history as ancient Greeks and Romans used it to crown athletic heroes. It is a member of the carrot family and is a natural breath freshener, even overcoming the scent of garlic. Butterfly caterpillars need specific hosts for their food needs and this herb is vital to them. Children can have fun looking for the caterpillars and marveling that they will turn into beautiful butterflies. Since parsley takes a long time to germinate, it is better to start with plants.
 

Zinnias (Zinnia)--Zinnias are an excellent choice for children. The seeds are easy to handle and the colorful blooms will appear all summer. They do best in full sun and are drought tolerant. They attract butterflies and the single-petaled flowers provide the most nectar.

Web Sites

American Horticultural Society www.ahs.org
AHS is compiling a National Registry of children's gardens. Go to Virginia to locate those in our state.

GLP Kids www.gardeninglaunchpad.com/kids.html
Gardening for kids with links to garden projects and gardening information.

Great Plant Escape http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/
This site for upper elementary students introduces botany and food science It is organized into six "cases" with clues, experiments and problems to be
solved with the help of Detective LePlant, aided by Bud and Sprout.  Illustrated.  Teacher's guide for integrating it into a classroom curriculum.

Kids Gardening www.kidsgardening.com
Strives to be the best site for all of those who garden with kids and is sponsored by the National Gardening Association.

Kids Valley Garden www.copper-tree.ca/garden/index.html
Colorful and humerou site that offers advice to kids on planting flowers, herbs, vegies, etc., caring for plants and much more

Seeds of Change Garden www.mnh.si.edu/garden/ 
This site was set up through the Smithsonian for children.

"Just for Kids", University of Texas - Children's Web Site: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/kindergarden/index.html

Nature Camp http://www.naturecamp.net

Nature Camp was founded on 1942 for children in the fifth grade through high school for the purpose of environmental and natural science education.There are four two-week sessions. The camp is located between Staunton and Lexingaton, Virginia  in the George Washington National Forest.  Nature Camp is coeducational and is designed for those with a genuine interest in the natural world and in conservation.  Go to the above website for further information about the camp and how to apply.

Life Cycles--The Monarch Butterfly http://www.units.muohi.edu/dragonfly/cycle

 

2008 Garden Events

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Programs

Kid Quest
Tuesday January 1, 2008 to Wednesday December 31, 2008
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Using the Kid Quest guide and mapping skills, families solve clever clues and find their way to a hidden treasure in the Garden. Along the way, children and their adults are encouraged to record the names of plants they encounter. Once the Quest is completed, children receive a collectable button. New editions are printed every two months and are available at the Garden's admission desk in the Robins Visitors Center. Available year-round, free with Garden admission.

Pinwheels for Prevention
Tuesday April 1, 2008 to Thursday May 1, 2008
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Throughout April: "Pinwheels for Prevention" Garden.
In partnership with Prevent Child Abuse Virginia.
In recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month, over 3,000 pinwheels will be "planted" in the Children's Garden along the lake edge. Each pinwheel represents a child in Virginia who has been served by Prevent Child Abuse Virginia's Healthy Families program during the past year. Much like the flowers and plants at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, children need to be nurtured and given a strong start in order to grow and thrive. Prevent Child Abuse Virginia helps "grow" healthy children by giving their parents and families the help, support and resources they need to be successful.
Drop-in and Dig!
Wednesday April 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30, 2008
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Families with children are invited to drop-in and participate in simple, easy to learn gardening tasks under the guidance of Children's Garden staff and volunteers. These family-oriented gardening experiences can easily be enjoyed at home. So join us to learn how much fun gardening with children can be! Free with Garden admission.

The Green Hour
Friday April 4, 2008 and April 18, 2008
11:00 A.M. - 12 Noon
The Children's Garden is participating in the Green Hour, a National Wildlife Federation program that encourages families to spend one hour per week outdoors to help cultivate a love of nature and wildlife in young people. Families with children of all ages are invited to spend a Green Hour in the Children's Garden reading, listening to story books and making connections with the natural world. Featured books will be selected using the Children's Garden monthly seasonal theme. Free with Garden admission.

Investigation Stations
Saturday April 5, 2008 to Friday May 2, 2008
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Investigation Stations are themed interpretive displays within the Children's Garden that provide visitors with information about garden-related topics such as garden habitats, plant products, tree identification, garden insects, and plant fibers and dyes.
April 5-11 Creepy Crawlers
April 12-18 Birds of a Feather
April 19-25 Where Do You Live?
April 26-May 2 The Four R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Refuse!)
On selected weekdays and on weekends, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Free with Garden admission.

Garden Parties for Children
Sunday April 6, 2008 and April 13, 2008
10:30 a.m. - 12 noon AND 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Celebrate your child's special day in the Children's Garden at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Our "Garden Party" package provides a 45-minute reserved program that includes a guided garden experience for children ages 3-12 lead by an LGBG Play Pal. For more information and to reserve a Garden Party, phone the Garden Registrar at 262-9887, ext. 322. By reservation only.

Jammin'
Saturday April 12, 2008
12 noon - 3:00 p.m.
Enjoy a special "vibe" in the Children's Garden! The Garden rocks and rolls with the special energy that comes from listening, dancing, clapping and stomping feet to the music. The featured entertainer is Jo Ann Light, who will lead a drumming circle. Free with Garden admission.

A Garden is a Home: A Family Workshop
Saturday April 19, 2008
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Families explore a wetland, pond, meadow, and forest searching for garden homes. Discover what conditions the animals and plants need to survive in these unique plant communities. Learn how to create your own plant community.
Advance registration required; space is limited. $10 member/$20 non-member.
To register, call the Garden Registrar at 262-9887, ext. 322. Preschool Ages 3, 4 and 5.

Children's Garden Spring Fling
Sunday April 20, 2008
1 - 4 pm
Kick off the gardening season at the Children's Garden Spring Fling. This community celebration offers family-friendly music, entertainment, activities, and food. The event coincides with Earth Day, and will include activities that promote environmental stewardship and highlight the work of local "green" partners. Featured entertainers are Jo Ann Light, who will lead the drumming circle, and Stephen Christoff, who makes music with a wide variety of handmade instruments, including the handflute, the bowed musical saw, and the jaw's harp. Free with Garden admission.

 

Books

Roots, Shoots, Buckets, and Boots
Sharon Lovejoy,  Workman Publishing, New York, N.Y.
Presents 12 easy-to-grow theme gardens for parents and children to grow together

Ready, Set, Grow! A Guide to Gardening with Children
Suzanne Frutig Bales
Burpee, Macmillan Inc. 1996
Has assorted garden plans simple enough for older children to follow or for parents to plant for younger children to enjoy.  One chapter focuses on quick and easy to grow, as well as the strange and weird plants that are Mother Nature's children.  Has a wide variety of garden activities to do with young children and with teenagers.

Return to Home Page