Some fun ideas to try from the book:
- Use your fingernail to slit the spur of a nasturtium bloom. Look inside for its hidden cargo of syrup. Sip some. Do you see why hummingbirds love it?
- Nibble lovage's leafy tops. They are a great substitute for celery in soups or salads. Snit a tall stem at the node and look inside. You will see why they make a perfect straw.
- Save all the extra flowers from your borage, nasturtium, Johnny-jump-up, and radish plants. Rinse then spread them on paper towels to dry. Place them in a pretty bottle to use as a rainbow-colored salad topping.
- A snowy tree cricket can help you measure the temperature. Using a wristwatch with a second hand, count the number of times the cricket chirps in 15 seconds and add 40. The total equals the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit. Compare your cricket calculations to the reading on the real thermometer.
- You and your child can make necklaces or bracelets from jewel-toned Indian corn kernels. Pick hardened seeds out of dried corncobs. Soak the seeds in warm water for at least twelve hours. Use a thick, heavy duty needle to pierce each softened kernel and string it onto heavy thread or dental floss. Tie a knot to form a circle.
This author is great! Another fun read is "Sunflower Houses."
ReplyDeleteThe author wants people to send her their own ideas for sharing the wonder of gardening with children, the prize being some autographed books.
Check out http://sharonlovejoy.blogspot.com/.