Gardening with Children continued from page 5 such as cress, beans, radishes and zinnias, shorten the waiting time for impatient little ones and quickly reinforce their efforts. Plants with vivid colors, textures, scents and flavors stimulate the senses and add multiple layers of interest. Offer guidance, but resist the parental impulse to step in or fuss over garden aesthetics. Children learn best by doing and will take pride in their own accomplishments. As you and your child spend time in your garden, take the time to observe and investigate the various critters that visit or are unearthed in the process. For older children, consider continuing your exploration at the library or online. Finally, encourage your children to share their garden with friends and family. They will take pride in giving “tours” and demonstrating their hard work. Want more ideas? Get the whole family involved with these alternative garden projects. Sprouts. Soak a handful of dried beans or peas, raw sunflower, alfalfa or cress seeds in a jar of water overnight. Drain the seeds, and allow them to sit in the jar, uncovered, for a few days. Watch them grow! Toad Houses. Create a cool, damp toad haven in a shady spot by half-burying a 4-6” terra cotta pot on its side. Add moss, leaves, and other natural decoration, along with a small saucer of water and see who hops in. Bean Teepee. Create a teepee out of 6’ garden stakes or bamboo poles. Allow your little gardeners to plant bean seeds around the base of circle. Be sure to choose “pole” beans, rather than “bush” beans, and consider unusual varieties such as purple-podded or red noodle beans. As the beans grow, train the vines to grow up the poles (tie them if necessary). Viola! You’ve created a leafy, green teepee, ripe for imaginary play. Theme Gardens are perfect for older children and teens. Grow a “pizza garden” with tomatoes, bell peppers, basil, oregano and onions. Or, choose colorful heirloom plants, such as purple carrots, striped rattlesnake beans, ringed Chioggia beets and blue Hubbard squash. Butterfly gardens, herb gardens, and monochromatic gardens are other fun choices. Heather MacMahon is an avid cook and gardener with a special interest in organic, sustainable agriculture. She lives on a small farm with her husband, children, and a menagerie of cats, dogs, rabbits, ducks, turkeys, and way too many chickens. Best Plants for Children’s Gardens • Pumpkins and gourds (great for crafts) • Sunflowers (super tall or pint-sized) • Cherry tomatoes (finger food) • Scented herbs (fast-growing) • Radishes and cress (fast germinating) • Potatoes (an underground treasure hunt) • Marigolds and Zinnias (hardy & drought tolerant) • Cockscomb and Lambs Ear (soft and woolly) • Heirloom vegetables (exciting colors) Family-Friendly Gardens State Arboretum of Virginia at Blandy Experimental Farm, Boyce, VA. Annual festivals, workshops for children, nature camps. Contact (540) 837-1758 or visit blandy.virginia.edu for information. Fauquier County Master Gardeners Demonstration Gardens • Schoolhouse #18, Marshall, VA. Perennial and annual flower beds, herbs, vegetables • Extension Office Demonstration Gardens, Warrenton VA. Virginia native flower garden, vegetable garden, compost demonstration • Rady Park, Warrenton, VA. Arboretum with alternative landscape trees and shrubs Contact the Extension Office at (540) 341-7950 for information. Prince William Cooperative Extension Office • Teaching Garden, Fairy Garden, Cooks Garden and Children’s Garden • Specialized tours available to groups and families upon request Contact the Extension Horticulture Help Desk (703) 792-7747 to for information or to arrange a tour. Culpeper Sports Complex, Culpeper, VA Five Senses Therapeutic Garden • Featuring raised beds, hardscapes and plantings designed to enliven the senses. • Paved paths are ADA accessible. Contact John Barrett (540) 727-3444 ext 157 for information For additional gardening resources and information on 4-H and Junior Master Gardener programs in your area, contact your local Virginia Cooperative Extension Office. 6 Piedmont Family Magazine 2013 • Issue 3