NANA SAYS GARDENING CAN BE FUN FOR CHILDREN

Having the grandchildren to our home can bring challenges. We have too much for them to resist. Buckles of water warming to use in the garden are magnets for the children to want to do- well water play. Turning the play into help such as- get your little watering cans and help granpa water the garden vegetable plants- tries to keep the involvement positive. Sometimes they just play and waste the water- hum! Instead of don't touch and leave it alone, we try to encourage the helping activities. Although I do hear, don't touch coming from my mouth often. And please don't pick Nana's flowers! The garden itself has so many learning opportunities. For example, the milk weed growing to allow the Monarch Butterflies to lay their eggs gives a little information on the natural wonders of the world. My granddaughter and I try to stay still so a butterfly will land on us. Of course, the sticks in the garden can be toys or weapons! Need to watch out for those dangerous items! We label the flowers that are changing in the perennial beds. We watch the squirrels and the birds. They are not quite at the - see how many weeds you can pull stage- perhaps next year? If they really enjoy the garden, I may have some real little garden assistants in training!