After the Winter we’ve had, I’m desperately looking forward to thawing out my garden and adding some amazing blooms. Spending time outside is great for me and my kid, and I try really hard to include her! Since my daughter is still a baby, my options are limited, but I have so many great ideas as both her and our garden grow together to make sure she’s a big part in its development.
Local flowers
I highly recommend getting flowers that will thrive in Michigan if you’re looking to start or add to your garden. Not only will they survive our harsher temperatures, but they’ll also bring pollinators. As butterflies, lightning bugs, bees and other crawling creatures surround your garden, you’ll be able to teach your children why certain plants attract them and the importance of creatures to the environment, even the littlest ones.
Ann Arbor has a list of perennials that they recommend. The list includes Blazing Stars, Evening Primrose and Vervain. I myself am a huge fan of wildflowers. They’re low maintenance and the mix of colors makes for a dynamic garden. You can also do a cutting garden, which is when the flowers grow back when you cut them, making for endless bouquets! If you’re new to gardening, there’s a trend called chaos gardening where you simply sprinkle a mix of all of the above and see what sticks.
I also highly recommend diversifying your lawn. Grass requires a lot of maintenance and uses a lot of water. Sprinkle your lawn with clovers, creeping thyme, or other lawn alternatives for better homes for insects and less work for you. The bugs and your water bill will thank you.
Lastly, you can plant fruits and vegetables. This can be exciting since you’ll be able to eat what you plant, but they do require a bit more love and dedication, and are more of a commitment than some of the other options above.
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Adding whimsy
There are so many ways to include your children in gardening. You can use a fantasy lens, such as fairies or dragons, and talk about which flowers fairies would prefer. I love fairy gardens, and you can incorporate that by making fairy doors to add to your trees or have your child pick an area to leave gifts for the fairies.
Another great way to add whimsy and give your child a task is making a moon gate. It’s basically just round sticks held together by chicken wire. You can do it all season (or all year) and have your child collect sticks both in your garden and on walks to add to your moon gate. Giving them a task will excite them, and it’s an ongoing project that you can work on together.
Rule of (green) thumb
There are a couple rules I stick to when it comes to including children in gardening. First, I give them age appropriate gardening tools so they can be a part of everything. I also let them mess things up, to an extent. Giving them a patch of dirt that’s actually theirs can keep them motivated, even if it isn’t perfect.
I always ask for input, and then I listen to it. Depending on how strict your ideas are, you can either give options, such as roses or lavender here, or be more open and ask your child what they want to plant or where they want to plant things. I prefer the second option, but I think it’s so dependent on both you and your kid.
Lastly, I make sure to give them tasks that are actually helpful. You really can’t go wrong giving a little one a watering can or hose and asking them to water. And if they can’t focus on a task, even being in the dirt can be enriching.
Gardening is an incredibly connector and calming hobby. I hope you’re inspired to create some whimsy! I can’t wait to see your gardens!
