Painted Garden Sticks

Why buy garden stakes when you can make your own?  I saw this idea on Pinterest and decided to give it a try for a kids class at the nursery.  I collected sticks from a beautiful Dawn Redwood tree that I had recently pruned.  I also received some great black bamboo from a friend.  The bamboo sticks were ready to go, but the redwood sticks … Continue reading Painted Garden Sticks

Halloween Tree

Which is the spookiest plant in the neighborhood?  The Contorted Filbert, of course!  Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’  is a twisty and fascinating plant.  It’s also referred to as Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick.  A quick Google search for Harry Lauder reveals that he was a famous international Scottish entertainer  and often performed with a twisted walking stick.  A few branches from this amazing tree will provide a great Halloween … Continue reading Halloween Tree

Recycled Kids Garden

Take those leftover cans and turn them into a garden!  For this activity all that is needed is a can, a little paint, a few vegetable starts and some creativity.  For plant markers we made birch bark flags and wrote the names on them with a permanent marker.  Add sun, water and soil and little gardeners can grow their own food!         … Continue reading Recycled Kids Garden