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| THE GARDEN OF STAMPS |
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| Mistress Mary, quite contrary, How does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockle shells And pretty maids all in a row. |
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| Butterfly, flutter by. Flutter by up in the sky. |
| Over in the Meadow Over in the meadow, in the sand, in the sun. Lived an old mother froggie and her little froggie one. "Hop", said the mother. "I hop," said the one. So they hopped and were glad in the sand in the sun. Over in the meadow, where the sky is so blue. Lived an old mother spider and her little spiders two. "Spin," said the mother. "We spin," said the two. So they spun and were glad where the sky is so blue. Over in the meadow, in a nest in a tree. Lived an old mother birdie and her little birdies three. "Sing," said the mother. "We sing," said the three. So they sang and were glad in the nest in the tree. Over in the meadow, by the old cottage door. Lived an old mother chipmunk and her little chippies four. "Play," said the mother. "We play," said the four. So they played and were glad by the old cottage door. |
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| Updated 5/06/01 |
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| HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW? by Sheila Ellison Gardening gives families the chance to learn about nature, to use their imagination, and to breathe in the fresh spring air. Spring has magic unlike any other season. The sun lights the way for games to continue after dinner, and the earth that was quiet during the winter months begins to come alive. It's no wonder that children love to get outside - and into the garden. So when the planting urge strikes you and your little ones, grab some sunscreen and a hat, and hit the dirt! These activities will help get your creativity in bloom. Land of Giants: Sunflowers are the perfect flower for any children's garden. They have large seeds (easy for small fingers to plant), grow quickly, and will survive a forgotten watering. If you live in a cold-weather climate, plant your sunflowers in May, after the risk of frost has passed. Dig one-half-inch-deep holes two to four feet apart; then drop two or three seeds in each hole, and cover with dirt. Water every few days. In two to three weeks' time when the seeds have sprouted, pinch off all but the largest seedlings so your flowers have room to grow. By July your sunflowers should be at least four feet tall. Insert bamboo stakes into the ground near the plants, and tie the stems to the bamboo with twine. This way, when the plants begin to bloom, the stemd won't bend and break. Butterfly Haven: Creating a butterfly garden is easy, even if the only dirt you have available is in a window box. Here's how to begin. Find a section of your garden that gets about six hours of sunlight a day and is sheltered from the wind. Then fill it with nectar-producing flowers that will attract butterflies, such as zinnias, purple cornflowers, black-eyed Susans, marigolds, etc. (For window box gardens, plant smaller varieties, like verbena, alyssum, and impatiens.) Look at the height description of each plant on the back of the seed packet, and place taller plants in the back of the garden. When the flowers begin to bloom, sit near the plants with your child, and watch the butterflies arrive. Get a picture book so you can identify the different varieties that have come to visit your garden. Birdbath Spa: This spring, give your bird friends a treat by creating a backyard "bird spa." To begin, use the clay bottom of a planter for the base of the bath, and put a few rocks in the center so the birds have a place to rest . Fill the planter with water. Then dig a shallow hole, and place the birdbath directly in the earth, or set it on top of a garden table. You can also create a smaller birdbath in a window box. Fill a planter box with dirt, and put a shallow plastic container at one end. (This way the birds can perch on the edge of the window box while bathing.) Buy small flowers, and plant them around the container. Cut back the flowers whenever they block access to the bath. Miniature Mythical Easter Bunny Garden: Find a special place in your yard to create an Easter bunny garden. The spot should be no longer than 2-feet-by-2-feet square . Plant very small flowers in the garden; then dig a hole, and place a small plastic container filled with water among the flowers for a lake. To make a bunny dwelling, construct a tiny house from decorated paper and tape it to a small stick. Use your imagination to create a magical land that any bunny would love to call home. Place small bunny figures in the garden (you can make your own using Popsicle sticks, nontoxic glue, and cotton balls), and create tales about their bunny lives. A Child's Garden of Verses: Children begin to connect with nature when they open their heart to the world around them. Sit with your child in your garden, and look at an interesting plant, tree, animal, or insect. Ask your child to think of something that the object or animal might say if it could talk, or make up a story about its life in the garden. Write down your stories. When you walk past the rock that told you it lived long ago in the land of the dinosaurs, be sure to call it by name, and remind your child of its history. Blooming Pictures: Let mother Nature be your canvass! Buy various packets of seeds for flowers that grow fast and well in your region. Have your child draw a picture in the garden dirt with a stick, and, following package directions, drop the flower seeds into the dirt lines. (Draw a matching picture on a piece of paper so you can remember what you drew.) Cover the seeds with dirt, and water them every few days. Make sure to take a photo of your artwork when the flowers bloom. Presses-Flower Pictures: Go for a walk through your garden to collect delicate flowers that will lie flat when pressed. (Old phone books make great flower presses.) Place a few flowers between a set of pages; then turn to another section of the phone book, and add a few more flowers. When you've put all your flowers in the book, close it, and place a heavy object on top. After a few weeks, check to see if the flowers have dried. When you're ready to make your picture, pour nontoxic liquid glue into a shallow dish. Using your fingers or a paintbrush, put the glue on a piece of paper where the flowers will rest. Pick up the dried flowers with a pair of tweezers, place them on the glue, and let them dry. Use watercolors, finger paint, chalk, or colored pencils to complete your masterpiece. (This makes a great Mother's Day gift!) Outdoor Terrarium: This activity is fun to do in early spring when plants are unable to grow without the protection of a mini greenhouse. Plant dwarf varieties of vegetable or flower seeds in the ground or in a planter. Water the seeds, and place a large wide- mouthed glass jar over the top . Watch the seeds develop and sprout. Remove the jars to water the seedlings. When the threat of frost has passed and the seedlings look strong and sturdy enough, you can remove the greenhouse jars. String Bean Teepee: What a better place to hide from the summer sun and imagine lands unknown than inside a teepee covered with green vines? Buy six to eight pieces of bamboo that are each 12 feet in length. Arrange them around a six-foot circle , and push the ends three inches into the ground. Take some twine, and tie the upper ends of the bamboo together about one foot down from the top. An older child or adult can hold the bamboo in place while the twine is being wrapped. Plant a variety of string bean seeds that grow well in your region at the base of the teepee. By summer, the teepee will be covered with fast-growing vines, leaves, and beans. |
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| "To create a little flower is the labor of ages." - William Blake |