A Childhood Of Discovery

Remember when you were a kid, finding that ladybug in the garden and watching it climb to your fingertip before flying away?

Young children have an innate desire to explore and learn through experience, so it makes sense to keep them in mind if you are planning a landscape for your family.

Children use their whole beings to do this exploring, so consider selecting plants that can withstand a bit of jostling without causing harm to the kids. Some ways this can be achieved is to plant a cottage garden, or one with feature grasses and flowering shrubs.

Basically, anything with a natural feel about the layout, with different layers and some version of an under story will do the trick. Keep in mind that there is a difference between natural and unkempt. Garden beds that have piles of uncomposted green waste or other refuse can harbour unwanted visitors to your garden such as snakes, wasps and rats.

Plants which attract local fauna will also appeal to the youngsters. Butterflies, insects, and birds are all immensely interesting to children. Also, anything edible straight off the plant, such as the midyim berry or Ceylon Hill Gooseberry. These can provide light grazing for several months of the year.

Plants that contain toxins in any parts, or have saps that irritate skin, should be avoided. Thorny and rough plants such as some yuccas and bougainvilleas can create a real hazard for children, but a mindfully placed selection of potted cacti can provide great interest without the danger of being spiked.

Did you know? That the original kindergarten concept was a school designed around a garden to encourage young children to explore and discover nature.