Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Children in the Garden - Waiting for the Seeds to Sprout


While we had the seeds and planter boxes out, the children insisted on planting a fairy, or Lego man, or Poly Pocket garden (depending on who was negotiating).  And, although I have to think starting a garden like this from seed is probably a futile exercise, I understand their desire to plant something - and get spring growing.


So, I sent them out to gather rocks for a path...


...and helped them map out their planting, trying to ignore the fact they planted too many seeds for one planter, or that the height of several of the plants probably won't work for a window box.  I think all the fairies, Lego men, and Polly Pockets (not the mention the children) want to see is a few small plants sprouting above the dirt...


...the well watered...


...and protected dirt.


Of course, most of the seeds won't germinate for two or three weeks, and won't grow into big beautiful plants until some time after that.  So now we wait - just like the young gardener in Julie Fogliano's and then it's spring.


He plants his seeds while the world around is still all brown.  He feeds the birds, and watches over his garden, and waits, and waits, and waits.  He begins to wonder if the birds might have snacked on his seeds.  He worries that bears, who can't read his garden markers, might have trampled his seeds.  He watches for green, and listens with an ear to the ground for any sounds of life.

And all the while, the world is slowly changing - though he doesn't seem to notice.  He plants his garden wearing a hat and scarf, feeds the birds in a light jacket, worries about bears in long sleeves, hangs a tire swing in short sleeves, and waits impatiently in shorts and rain boots for the world to change from brown to green - and then it's spring.

It's great to be a homeschooler.

7 comments:

Phyllis said...

Looks like a great plan! Have they never planted seeds before?

Natalie PlanetSmarty said...

It's so strange to read that planting season is just starting for you. We are already waiting for our first strawberries (but maybe squirrels will get to them first).

An Almost Unschooling Mom said...

Phyllis - They have - but never a "fairy garden". We're about a week - maybe two - from when I can let them go at their planter boxes outside, and I'm trying to keep them happy with the indoor planting.

Mhairi said...

Have you seen the book "Jasper's Beanstalk" by Nick Butterworth (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jaspers-Beanstalk-Nick-Butterworth/dp/0340586346)
It would be great for reading while waiting for the seeds to grow. It is a favourite of mine and my children.

Ticia said...

I really need to try my kids on planting something. I just can't keep stuff alive, so I'm worried about their disappointment.

Brimful Curiosities said...

So far we have planted onion bulbs and marigold seeds (plus a ton of potatoes at the farm). We hope to get our entire garden in next week.

and then it's spring is a beautifully illustrated book, but that's not surprising considering Erin Stead is a Caldecott winner. We want to make those little signs like in the book that warn against stomping...

Jackie Higgins said...

We are planting for the first time this year! the waiting is so hard! Great idea to use kid lit to help them during the waiting process!