Creating a garden area the whole family will love starts with observing everyone’s preferences and interests.
Maybe it’s just me and my obsessive need to garden, but I want my children to be involved and have fond memories of gardening.
Since the kids were tiny, I have had them involved in gardening, mainly because I feel it’s a skill that needs to be passed down from generation to generation. And a skill that needs to be taught.
But I have come to the shocking conclusion that some don’t care! At all.
(I find this somewhat irritating. Every spring, I wake up enthusiastic about growing plants. And then I am met with some disagreeableness from some of the blessed children.)
But I have found a way around this! You can focus on creating garden areas that the whole family will love!
If you have never gardened before, you will find helpful tips here:
Simple steps to starting a garden
Creating a garden area the whole family will love might include adding flowers, art, vegetables they like, and possibly a tiny pond with fish or frogs.
When creating a garden, the whole family will love it. Find out what thrills each person and write it down!
Let the brainstorming begin!
Give your family a few ideas to get them started and see what they can come up with. Ideas include a sand pit with trucks, a sundial, fountains, ponds, a turtle living area, painting areas, bridges you can build, or small wishing wells.
I’ve found that even though small children say outlandish things, they can be incorporated in a small way.
If Johnny wants a shark in the pond, that might seem unattainable, but an aquarium plastic shark might be doable!
At this point, don’t say no. Say, “We will see how we can fit that in.”
Let each person be heard.
Fine-tuning will come later. But for now, let everyone vote and get excited!
Think outside the box. You want your garden to be a special place, but it does not have to look like everyone else’s garden.
Feel free to incorporate things that are “different.”
These might include a writing or drawing area, small fountains or ponds, or a sand pit for the children to drive their toy trucks in.
Creating a special place for each family member is possible. It might just require some ” out-of-the-box” thinking.
(Please also consider safety issues, which may be an issue. Such as but not limited to ponds around toddlers or very young children.)
Think cohesively. How will you incorporate each of these into the garden?
Initially, you may think that this cannot be done. But looking a little closer, you might realize that a certain garden design or path may make this doable.
One of my favorite teachers on YouTube is Suburban Homestead! He teaches a lot about Cottage Gardens. Although this may not be your thing, his teaching about garden design will help you create a cohesive garden.
Creating a basic garden design and drawing it on paper will create a cohesive garden space.
Create a budget and purchase the special things.
There are so many things that can make a garden special and unique. And these things do not have to break the bank.
Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist often will give away old ponds or gardening materials.
Designing a garden and budgeting for it during the winter season will give you time to plan for unique items.
There are ways to do this that will accept limitations but still meet everyone’s desire for something special!
Plan ahead and set the date.
Choosing a date to have everything ready to go can be daunting. But to make this happen, you will need some idea of when you needeverything ready to go.
Begin a few weeks ahead to have tools and supplies ready for gardening. If you need to borrow equipment or a pickup, you can plan that now, too.
The weather may not cooperate, but you have a figurative date to work with.
Enjoy your garden!
Take time to relax and enjoy your garden. Place a bench out there. Have coffee there. Watch your children play there.
Listen to them splash in a little pond and hear them squeal as they catch a frog.
Spend time there.
It’s time for us to stop rushing about. And it’s time for us to just stop. And smell the roses.
