Specialty Gardens: C ti M i l S sCreating Magical Spaces

©2007, Norm Lownds007, Norm Lownds

The 4-H Children’s GardensThe 4 H Children s Gardens

“Th 4 H Child ’ G d i i l“The 4-H Children’s Garden is a magicalplace of learning.”

12-year-old

What is a Magical Space?What is a Magical Space?

• Filled with Curiosity and Wonder• Filled with Curiosity and Wonder

• A physical place (space)• Experiencesp

How do you create magic spaces?How do you create magic spaces?

• Know your audience Know your audience • Think like your audience• Don’t talk down to your audienceDon t talk down to your audience• Meet your audience’s needs• Test spaces on kids – watch what they do• Test spaces on kids – watch what they do

What do you need to know?What do you need to know?

• About kidsAb t d• About gardens

About KidsAbout Kids

Kids are curious and full of wonder• Kids are curious and full of wonder• Kids are concrete thinkers

Kid lik thi th t f ili• Kids like things that are familiar• Kids don’t care about adult “gardening rules”

d d d h d• Kids want and need hands-on• Kids love to be surrounded by plants• Kids experience things

intensely

About KidsAbout Kids

Kid d b li l hi• Kids are amazed by little things• Kids will meet or exceed expectations• Kids like to learn• Kids learn based on what they already know• Rules are made to be tested (broken)• Kids notice the details

NOT the vistas

About GardensAbout Gardens

G d “ l ” d t b b k• Garden “rules” are made to be broken• Gardens come in all shapes and sizes• Gardens appeal to all the sensesGardens appeal to all the senses• Gardens should be hands-on (touched,

smelled, hidden in, picked, …)• Gardens are amazing!• Gardens are FUN!!

It i OK t h d • It is OK to have garden failures

How do you create magic?How do you create magic?

• Start with Curiosity Start with Curiosity • Think like a kid (be a kid)• Think outside the garden bed linesThink outside the garden bed lines• Use Theme Gardens• Create magical programs and activities• Create magical programs and activities• Connect to the 4-H Children’s Garden

Curiosity – The Key!Curiosity The Key!

C i itCuriosityExploration

DiscoveryPleasure

RepetitionMasteryMastery

Think like a kid (be a kid)Think like a kid (be a kid)

• Remember your favorite kid thingsRemember your favorite kid things• Watch kids and listen to them

W d b t thi• Wonder about everything• Remember that kids have 5 senses• Be amazed and excited by little things

Think like a kid (be a kid)Think like a kid (be a kid)• As a kid, you need to feel, smell, walk in, be y

a part of … the garden– Straight paths are to run down

Grass is to walk on and roll in– Grass is to walk on and roll in– Flowers are to smell– Everyone needs a place to hidey p– A maze is to get lost in

• Ask “What would happen if I broke that l ?” t d th ??rule?” … stepped on the grass??

• Focus on the details NOT the vistasNOT the vistas

Involve kidsInvolve kids

• Garden planningGarden planning• Planting

M i t• Maintenance• Activities

Think outside the garden bed lilines

• What is a garden?G d i ll h d i• Gardens come in all shapes and sizes

• All plants “go together”• Show the entire life cycle• Add ‘stuff’ to your gardenAdd stuff to your garden• Make it interactive

Theme Gardens Rule!!Theme Gardens Rule!!• ABC GardenABC Garden• Pizza Garden• Peter Rabbit Herb GardenPeter Rabbit Herb Garden• Cereal Bowl Garden• Teddy Bear and Animals Garden• Teddy Bear and Animals Garden• Crayon Color Garden• Jack and the Giants Garden• Jack and the Giants Garden

4-H Children’s Gardens4 H Children s Gardens• Outdoor 4-H Children’s GardenOutdoor 4 H Children s Garden

– About 2/3 acre– 65 theme areas

• Indoor 4-H Children’s Garden– 1500 square feet1500 square feet– 25 theme areas

Curiosity Classroom• Curiosity Classroom

Magical spacesMagical spaces

ABC GardenABC Garden• AlyssumAlyssum• Basil

• Marigold• Nasturtium• Nasturtium

• Yarrow• Yarrow• Zinnia

Peter Rabbit Herb GardenPeter Rabbit Herb Garden• Beet ‘MacGregor's Beet MacGregor s

Favorite’• Radish ‘French

Breakfast’Breakfast• Rhubarb ‘Valentine’• Mint• Lemon Balm• Tansy

Lavender• Lavender• Chamomile

Cereal Bowl GardenCereal Bowl Garden

Corn for Cornflakes• Corn for Cornflakes• Wheat for Wheaties

R f b d• Rye for bread• Oats for Oatmeal

B k h f • Buckwheat for pancakesS B t f • Sugar Beets for sugar

Crayon Color GardenCrayon Color Garden• Strawberry pinkStrawberry pink• Lavender• GoldenrodGoldenrod• Cornflower• Dianthus pink• Dianthus pink• Pumpkin

Teddy Bear and AnimalsTeddy Bear and Animals• Dandelions Dandelions • Spider plant• Lamb’s earsLamb s ears• Lambs quarters• Snapdragon• Snapdragon• Goldfish plant• Hens and chicks• Hens and chicks

Pizza GardenPizza Garden• Wheat • Tomato• Basil• Oregano• Peppers

O i• Onions• Marigold, “The Cheese”

Jack and the Giants GardenJack and the Giants Garden• Climbing beans Climbing beans

(Scarlet Runner)• Giant sunflowersf• Arundo grass

Indoor 4-H Children’s GardenIndoor 4-H Children s Garden

Around the World Herb GardenAround the World Herb Garden

My Favorite Foods GardenMy Favorite Foods Garden

• Strawberries• Strawberries• Maple tree• PotatoesPotatoes• Tomatoes • Peanuts Peanuts • Chocolate mint• Spaghetti squashSpaghetti squash• Chives• Aguga ‘Chocolate Chip’g g p

Take a Deep BreathTake a Deep Breath

Little lessons from flowersLittle lessons from flowersfor a happier world

Follow Your Nose GardenFollow Your Nose Garden

Michigan GardenMichigan Garden• Sand dunesSand dunes• ‘Big Mac’ bridge• Plank roadPlank road

Harry’s Herbology GardenHarry s Herbology Garden

• Snake plantSnake plant• Sensitive plant• Broom Corn• Petunia• Lupine

Ch l t fl• Chocolate flower• Coleus ‘Dragon’s

Blood’Blood• Privet• Spiral Staircase

Plants – the real magic!Plants the real magic!

Sensitive PlantSensitive Plant

Eyeball PlantEyeball Plant

SnapdragonSnapdragon

Broom CornBroom Corn

Sunflower ‘Teddy Bear’Sunflower Teddy Bear

Cool Kid PlantsCool Kid Plants• Sensitive plantSensitive plant• Eyeball plant• Snapdragonp g• Cherry tomato ‘Matt’s Wild Cherry’• Basil ‘Magical Michael’• Broom corn• Chocolate Mint

S fl ‘T dd B ’• Sunflower ‘Teddy Bear’• Scarlet Runner Bean• Pumpkin ‘Cinderella’• Pumpkin Cinderella

Add stuffAdd stuff…

• Focus on the details• Get them right!

Details details detailsDetails, details, details•

Monet BridgeMonet Bridge

Make it interactiveMake it interactive

Dance ChimesDance Chimes

“Big Mac” BridgeBig Mac Bridge

Educational ProgramsEducational Programs

Planting curiosity,N t i dNurturing wonder,

Growing Understanding

Seeds of ScienceSeeds of Science

• Day-long field trips• Day-long field trips• Multi-day

d b k• Visits separated by 1-2 weeks• Specific between visit experiments, p p

activities, connections

Seeds of ScienceSeeds of Science

Family ProgramsFamily Programs• Dinosaur DayDinosaur Day• Bug Day• Teddy Bear Tea PartyTeddy Bear Tea Party• Around the World Jubilee• Compost Day• Compost Day• Plant Detectives• Harvest Festival• Harvest Festival

Multi-day Summer ProgramsMulti-day Summer Programs

• Stories in the GardenKid C t• Kid Curator

• Garden Chefs

• Camp MonetCamp Monet

On-line ExperiencesOn line Experiences

http://4hgarden msu edu/kidstourhttp://4hgarden.msu.edu/kidstour

Wonder WallWonder Wall

The MagicThe Magic

“We love coming here!”We love coming here!“I love it here.”“I love this place.”“I bringed my mommy.” br nged my mommy.

Magic in the gardenMagic in the garden

“Let me show you this ”Let me show you this.”“Oh, look!!”“C !”“Come on!”“Can I show you this?”“ f d h “I found the

motherlode!”

Sensitive Plant – Magic!Sensitive Plant Magic!

“I lik i ’ h i “I like it’s technique –it looks like it is dead when it closes dead when it closes up – then animals will leave it alone.”leave it alone.

“It looks like grasshopper wings.”g pp g

“It’s called the ‘tickle me’ plant.”p

ABC GardenABC Garden

“I found my name!”“I d h BC’ ”“I do the ABC’s.”

When it’s time to leaveWhen it s time to leave

“I don’t want to leave”“Can I stay here overnight?”y g

When it’s time to leaveWhen it s time to leave

“I can’t leave, I am part of the pizza ”part of the pizza.

Creating magic spacesCreating magic spaces

• Use the information presented hereUse the information presented here• Visit us in person

Visit us on line• Visit us on-line• Incorporate the Wonder Wall into your

gardengarden• Incorporate the PSA into your garden

S d h• Stay connected to the4-H Children’s Gardens

Contact InfoContact Info

Dr Norm LowndsDr. Norm Lowndslownds@msu.edu517-355-5191 ext. 1-3495 7 355 5 9 ext. 349

http://4hgarden.msu.edup ghttp://4hgarden.msu.edu/kidstour

Learn more!Learn more!

National Children and Youth National Children and Youth Gardening Symposium

July 19-21, 2007Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

Magic Garden SpacesMagic Garden Spaces

Look at a gardenTh h hild’ Through a child’s eyesIt’s magic, it’s wonderIt’s full of surprise!