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WBM september 2011
ing a bit enigmatic.
Her solution has been to garden
wherever she can, in the most delightful,
eco-friendly way possible. Visitors
are welcomed by an array of planters
varying in size, arranged around and
adjacent to an ornate wooden bench
calling guests up the stairs to the home
on the water.
Succulents spill from their containers
thriving in the baking summer
heat. “Jackson has always been taken
by succulents,” Hurley says, adding
that the child is fascinated by the fact
that there are plants that can store
much of what they need in their
leaves.
“Jackson is usually in charge of
selection and design,” Hurley says,
explaining how he is largely in charge
of placing, planting and caring for the
plants he selects. And he has since, she
adds, developed a consciousness of the
requirements of living things.
They buy from locally owned garden
shops and talk about each plant’s
needs, including drought tolerance or
intolerance, sun exposure and space
requirements. While container gardens
can satisfy a thirst for the
joys of gardening, the
possibilities are endless when garden
space is ample.
Children can be encouraged to
explore the simplest of gardens
through accessibility to child-sized
hand tools, garden gloves and watering
cans. Exploring the garden with
them, while noting daily and seasonal
changes, hones observation and exploration
skills.
Indoor seed-starting can help
children build a connection with
the life cycle of plants, while caring
for seedlings can foster a sense of
responsibility.
Planting a rainbow garden with
bulbs in the fall or favorite annuals by
seed in early spring can be a crowdpleasing,
enriching endeavor. Children
can be included in the selection pro-