Ivor was so proud of the gate he made out of Lego. He told us if he blocks up the door he would have to stay and play forever! Bless.
Ivor’s Lego Gate
Author: Tracie Dowling
I have worked in childcare for over thirty years. I have been a Foster Care Parent, a Childminding Network Co-Ordinator and now I work as a Registered Childminder and Childminder Mentor for the Department for Education.
Martha’s Lego Measuring Stick
Martha made a very tall measuring stick out of chunky Lego blocks. She made it to be as tall as she is then counted each brick. 58 blocks!
When Martha comes back in the holidays she is going to make a new measuring stick to see how much she has grown.
Lego Build by Bella
Bella made a lovely Lego creation of Tracie today, with lovely red hair and rosy cheeks.
Bella went on to make Tracie’s body. Tracie absolutely loves the leggings and would love to have some to wear at work!
Our Mini Pond Habitats
This summer the children have been helping us make mini pond habitats around the garden. Our tadpoles have turned into amazing frogs and we keep finding them hopping around the garden in various places trying to get away from our cats.
We decided to make four mini hiding pools for them between the two main ponds. Hopefully they will use them to jump in and hide while going from one pond to the other to see their friends and family.
Chloe’s Cauliflower
This cute little cauliflower has been grown from seed by Chloe. Chloe loves to help us in the garden and best of all, she loves looking for all the wonderful insects and making them a home.
I have set Chloe a challenge this summer, to try the cauliflower when it’s ready!
Baby Pumpkin
Back in early spring the Wonderful Wanderers sowed some pumpkin seeds, which they collected from last year’s crop. The winner of the first to grow goes to Martha, who’s pumpkin is now the size of an egg.
We are looking forward to a bumper crop so that in October we can carve them for Halloween. Tracie will try and persuade everyone to taste a homemade pumpkin pie.
Watch this space to see how we do and find out if anyone was brave enough to try the pie!
Niamh’s Sunflower
This year Niamh won the fastest growing sunflower challenge. It has bloomed just in time for her 2nd birthday!
July in the Garden
During the lockdown, the key worker children have been working extra hard helping Tracie in the garden.
We have grown Beetroot, Cucumbers, Chillies, Mange-tout, Peppers, Tomatoes, Pumpkins, Lettuce, Onions, Cauliflowers, Cabbage, Peas, Garlic, Turmeric, Ginger, Strawberries, Raspberries, Currents, Apples, Cherries, Kiwi and lots of different herbs.
Our new vegetable this year is Cucamelons. These are a cute, little fruit with bags of personality. Originating from Mexico, Cucamelons produce lots of fruit throughout the Summer that taste like cucumber and lime. They are grape size, look like baby watermelons and are supposed to be easy to grow. Watch this space for updates on how we get on growing them.
Who Picked Our Cherries?
A few weeks ago, we posted about our two cherries the boys had found growing nicely on our Cherry tree. Today Poppy decided it was time to pick them!
2 Cherries 
Poppy Picked Them!
She had found three all together and said as she had picked them its one for me and two for her! What a little madam!! They were quite sour so Tracie was pleased she only got one in the end! Lets hope next year we get more and they are sweeter!
June’s Walk Around the Garden
On our walk around the garden, Leo and Jacey couldn’t pass the Strawberries without having their fill! We found lots of purple flowers. We found Sweet Peas, Foxglove, Alliums and Ice Plant, they were all very fragrant.
Strawberry Hunt 
Ice Plant 
Alium 
Fox Glove 
Sweet Pea
The yellow flowers all shone out like the sunshine. Tracie told us all about the different ways to use flowers. Tracie told us some go into medicine like St Johns Wort, some keep bugs away from our tomatoes like Marigolds and Field Mustard can be used in cooking. But we were warned we can only eat plants and flowers given to us by adults as some are poisonous like the foxglove.
Marigold 
Field Mustard 
St John’s Wort 
Cherries!
In the front garden we found two delicious looking Cherries. Tracie said it’s good they where way up high on the tree as it would stop us picking them before she could have a taste! Look who we found hiding in the ferns! Our jolly gnome, Rainbow!
The pond is thriving at the moment with wildlife and flowers. The flowers like Hot Poker and Foxgloves attract mini beasts and bees to collect pollen to make us honey and pollenate other plants. Can you spot the Plant sign we made in March?
Tracie's Treasures 