Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 1, 1995 TAG: 9511010023
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-10 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: JOE HUNNINGS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Plant a tree to celebrate a birth. A tree's growth is much like a child's. It starts small and young, as a seedling. It needs nourishment and watering.
Like a child, a tree goes through growth spurts, passing through youth and entering maturity. In maturity, it is able to share with others such fine attributes as shade to cool and add comfort to a yard or home, leaves to help make soil-building compost, and sturdy branches from which kids can swing.
Your child can see his or her own growth reflected in the growth of the tree and can appreciate the length of time it takes for a tree to mature. The love of trees your child gains now will carry on through adulthood.
Learn the names of plants. Spending time in the garden to learn about plants can be fun for parents and children both.
In addition to learning about food crops and beautiful flowers, this time is a perfect opportunity to learn which plants or plant parts can be potentially poisonous and how to enjoy the plants safely.
Plant a vegetable garden. The rewards of a vegetable garden are as exciting to adults as they are to children, giving both a sense of accomplishment.
Sharing the joy and excitement or even the disappointment and failure of a vegetable garden strengthens family ties.
Make crafts from garden harvests. Such projects as making birdhouses from gourds grown in the garden or arranging dried flowers offer times of sharing for family members.
Share gifts of the garden. Giving gifts of handmade crafts and treasures is extremely satisfying, and I have never met anyone who was not delighted in receiving such gifts.
Even fresh produce, such as tomatoes, squash, and green beans, make terrific gifts for people who do not have a garden.
Offering these gifts gives adults and children alike an opportunity to show they care about others.
Gardening provides quiet time for adults and children to share ideas - to talk and, most importantly, to listen to each other and, by working together, to communicate the many messages that must be said without words. Gardening develops self-esteem, a sense of nurturing, and the quality of generosity. The garden is a wonderful family room!
Start now to involve your child in the planning of your spring garden. There are many books for children to educate and excite them about gardening. Seed catalogs can be a source of fascination and are perfect for craft projects after the plants have been ordered.
by CNB