Natural Play - Discovery Garden

In our garden there are no plastic toys and plastic playground equipment but instead I tried to create a discovery garden with simple (recycled) natural materials and plants. And I did my best to attract birds and insects. We enjoy the results every day now...

In our relatively small garden (8x7 meters) there are two trees, a large chestnut and an elm tree. Within a week time the chestnut has changed from buds to fresh green leaves. I am so grateful for her presence because she is cleaning our air (converting carbon dioxide into oxygen).  Lately I had been worrying about two air polluting companies next door. But since this green giant has returned 

from hibernation I am somewhat reassured. 

 Trees are almost instantly creating a magical playground for kids, because these green shelters are harboring and attracting all kinds of birds and insects. The biodiversity increases instantly the moment you plant a native tree! These days I see a lot of trees being cut down to make room for artificial playground for children. But isn't a tree the ultimate playground? My son plays in the shadow of the trees

while  listening to the rustling leaves. And my baby looks mesmerized at the branches dancing in the wind. No artificial toy could ever replace that.

Birds are the crown jewels in our garden. They brighten our day and every time a new species turns up I feel blessed. When you provide shelter, add water bowls and bird feeders and don't clean up your garden too well you probably will be treated to lots of birds.

I do my best to offer many different but simple 

natural playing materials in our garden;

Trunks, bark, gravel, bricks, lava stones, water, (straw) berries, moss, a mini pond, a vegetable container garden, branches and baskets filled with stones, pine cones and (snail) shells. 

I asked friends and family for left over materials and everyone added something small. They often add new found treasuries like stones, plants and trunks.

Ornamental grasses, Japanese maples, bamboo, moss and low evergreen shrubs add great diversity in form and color. My personal favorite is ivy, because of its fresh beautiful colored leaves and the ability to grow everywhere. On top of that, it is evergreen.

Mud turned out to be the best idea of all. My dahlia corner did not make it through the winter and a few days ago I noticed my son playing in the bare sand. I decided to leave it this way and surrounded the play area with trunks and stones.
He spends his days now barefoot, digging and making mud and I am such
a happy mamma!

As a child I had my most happy and magical moments discovering my parents garden. I hope my children will have the same experience. It is a breeding ground for the rest of their lives.

Natural Play - Mud Pie Kitchen

Our mud pie kitchen next to our sandpit is made of an old kitchen trolley and a zinc tub. I can really recommend creating one, it is such a wonderful addition to natural play!

These days our son loves to create his famous 'garden soup', 'leaf pancakes' and his all time favorite 'the cork stew'. My suggestion of making lots of mud in the large zinc tub was rejected; "No Mamma that is my dishpan!" (Must be his Virgo ascendant I guess!)

But simple materials like corks, pine cones, shells, stones and all kinds of leaves picked from the garden are warmly welcomed by him. From time to time I can surprise him with potato skins, avocado seeds, egg cartons and paper bags.
And occasionally there are gnome cork boats sailing around in his dishpan. He really enjoys this natural play and I just love to see how he strolls through the garden all day long looking for ingredients for his stews.

In his mud pie kitchen my stainless steel kitchen equipment is prefered above plastic toys because of his need for imitation and realistic sound play. The results are empty kitchen cupboards but a great well-stocked playspace! 

Now I'm off to try a bowl of homemade cork stew. 

I hope you have a wonderful Sunday with your loved ones too.

Garden Gnome Reading Corner

After a hard day's work gnomes love to relax a bit in a comfortable reading chair. This one is made of 7 corks and a slice of birch of app. 6 cm. I used waterproof glue so rain is no problem (except for the relaxing gnomes maybe...)

The magazines are made of the water-repellent waxed paper of an used popcorn packaging. And the magazine rack is made of two walnut shells glued together. 
(Place the magazine rack in a windless spot) 

And last but not least...the coffee table. Any self-respecting gnome needs a decent coffee table and this lovely pebble model with a cork base is the latest trend. A pretty heavy model that does not blow away easily, ideal for the outdoors. 

This little project is easy to make (I use a small iron saw for the corks) and so much fun for children. And let's not forget the gratitude of the gnomes of course!

Sharing on;

Frontier Dreams - Keep Calm and Craft on

The Magic Onions - Friday's Nature Table

Natural Suburbia - Creative Friday

Made by Joey - Sharing Creative Ideas

Garden Gnome Homes

When you are creating fairy houses and gnome homes every little piece of wood, moss or stone becomes a potential piece of furniture. Things will never be the same again.

Every morning when I look out of my kitchen window I see these little fairyland scenes. They make me feel happy...

.... very happy!

Reconnecting

Oh how lovely these first warm days!

The first days in the garden this year, surrounded by birds, bees.

and all the other creatures who woke up by the sunbeams.

The last time I spend a day in the garden I was still pregnant and now there is a little baby girl under the elm tree in the shade. She is watching the rustling leaves and all the other magical things that still surround her. 

I see my son crouching down to look at a bumble bee, he reminds me of myself as a child. I used to spend hours in the garden just sitting there looking at the small insects that crawled around me. It made me feel happy and warm inside...connected.

I had almost become blind for these every day miracles of Mother Nature. I looked at them but did not identify with them anymore. Today I realize that it is time for me to reconnect....

First Garden Day

Today was our first real day in the garden this season!

It was lovely, there were bees and sunbathing ladybugs and although the garden looks quite shabby this time of year, the sun gave everything a magical glow.

The Natural World

“Our challenge isn’t so much to teach children about the natural world, 

 but to find ways to nurture and sustain the instinctive connections they already carry.” 

~Terry Krautwurst

Fairy Gardens

Reconnect

It was such a beautiful day, windy and sunny at the same time. A strange combination of a cold wind and warm sunbeams. The leaves in the garden seemed to glow in the sunlight and whirled away a moment later.

M was playing with his beloved hydro grains again and I was strolling around the garden with my camera. At these moments we're at complete peace with ourselves and our surroundings. I wish we could be like that all the time.

I felt how the sunbeams warmed me and enlightened me. I felt how the wind blew my worries away. That fresh cold wind brought energy and clear thoughts.

And suddenly I could not remember what I worried about this morning and why I was angry or disappointed. It all seemed so small and non-essential. The essence was here with my boy in our garden. It was hidden in every bird, flower and plant...and in me.

After today I promise myself to go outside whenever that feeling of discontent comes again. To take a time-out to breathe some fresh air and to reconnect (and perhaps to play with hydro grains.. :)