Garden Classroom – Page 6 – Tracie's Treasures

Liverpool Kindness Rocks: Stanley Park

Posted on 20th Apr 202110th Aug 2021 by Tracie Dowling

Today Emma and the seedlings went on a mission to find some more Kindness Rocks as they were very disappointed last week when they didn’t find any at all!

The children hunted everywhere, behind, under, next too and near various different places the could be hidden.

Georgia was the first to find one, it was small and colourful. She got so excited and told Tracie it was found at the bottom of a tree.

Fearne found the biggest one! It was a grey stone and was hidden inside the railings near the duck pond.

The next three where very hard to find. They were all inside different clusters of bushes. The children had to crouch down and look between the trunks and sticks.

The ice cream stone was found in the rose garden, it was the easiest to spot! The children have all hidden them around Stanley park ready for someone else to go hunting and find them.

Let us know if you find them!

Garden Classroom, rangers, Seedlings

Soft Play Fun

Posted on 16th Apr 202124th Apr 2021 by Tracie Dowling

This week, all the children have loved the soft play area. Even the Wanderers and Rangers have used them.

Emma and the Seedlings used the soft play area to practice counting and looked around for different shapes.

Molly buried Jack underneath the blocks to make a grave!

Martie made Tracie’s heart jump when trying to go down the steps head first!

Chloe, Leo and Molly made a big aeroplane. Leo was the pilot and took the girls on holiday. Tracie asked if he could fly her to Madeira so she could enjoy the hot weather, Chloe said she wants to go with her so she could go swimming.

Martha used the blocks to make a barricade as she didn’t want to go home! We love the blocks as we can make up so many different activities and role play games.

Garden Classroom, Seedlings

Garden Challenge 2021: Tracie’s Garden Update

Posted on 16th Apr 202110th Aug 2021 by Tracie Dowling

The Seedlings have been so busy this month in the garden. We have enjoyed the lovely bright days even though its been cold.

Sophie helped Tracie to plant a cherry tomato plant. We have been watching it grow from a tiny seed that we sowed last month. We have put a tall cane next to the plant so when it grows tall we can use it for support.

Fearne made sure the tomato plant had plenty of water to help it grow. Fearne asked Tracie for a drink as she wants to grow up bigger!

While we were weeding and tidying up the front garden, Georgia noticed that the potatoes had started growing. Fearne said “they’re not potatoes!” Tracie explained they are potatoes and that the plant grows big and strong, feeding the potatoes growing underneath.

Alfie didn’t want to help plant the vegetables he just wanted to sit and watch! The cheeky monkey! We planted our beans around a wigwam made out of canes, we then added netting around it to support the plants to climb up.

We have decided to plant our vegetables in between the flowers this year as we have so many strong plants. We cant wait to see them grow and make some cauliflower cheese nom, nom!

family, Garden Classroom

Garden Challenge 2021: Gemma’s April Garden Update

Posted on 14th Apr 202110th Aug 2021 by Tracie Dowling

It’s been all go go go in Gemma’s garden so far this Spring! There have been some fantastic growing under UV lights which have helped to speed up the growing process.

Gemma has prepared her three vegetable beds ready to plant out all her seedlings.

Gemma’s seeds have grown so well and are lovely and strong. Now all she needs to do is plant them out and keep watering daily.

The beds are all planted up now, there are carrots, radish, pak choi, beetroots, spring onion and peas which are growing up the canes.

Jack has enjoyed sitting in the fresh air watching his mummy garden. I bet he is thinking ideas for when he can have his own patch!

family, Garden Classroom

Garden Challenge 2021: Phyllis April Update

Posted on 14th Apr 202110th Aug 2021 by Tracie Dowling

Phyllis has definitely been working hard in her garden since we last visited her.

The little pool Phyllis made out of an old wheelbarrow for the birds and insects is now a haven for them. She has planted pond flowers, plants and a frog which is a fun addition.

Phyllis has worked hard in the front garden to provide the birds with quiet areas to feed and nest safely. There have been loads of bumble bees seen getting the nectar from the flowers.

In the greenhouse there are loads of seeds growing well. Phyllis has taken lots of cuttings from different plants in her garden to make more for free! Everything will need to be planted out soon.

This is Tracie’s favourite picture of Phyllis’ garden. Everything is lush and growing well and it’s all proof Spring is definitely here.

Garden Classroom, rangers, Seedlings, wanderers

Spring is here!

Posted on 9th Apr 202110th Aug 2021 by Tracie Dowling

This Easter holidays have flown by so fast. The Seedlings, Wanderers and Rangers have all been so busy in the garden and their efforts are paying off with an abundance of seedlings growing strong.

On the first shelf in our greenhouse we have Marigolds growing, we will be planting them between the tomatoes, Chillies and Cucumbers to help fight away the aphids, this is called companion planting. We do this instead of using pesticides which is better for the environment. The Wanderers are growing Pak Choi, radish, cauliflower and sweetpeas.

On the second shelf we have used toilet rolls as pots, filled them with peat-free compost and sown peas, swede, beetroot and spring onions.

The Little Seedlings helped Tracie to sow the Phlox seeds, Alfie tried so hard to pick a seed up from Tracie’s hand using his pincer grip, but the seeds were just too small. Tracie gave Alfie the packet to sprinkle over the toilet roll pots. I’m sure they will set seed soon and we will thin them out individually if over crowded.

The middle shelf has tomatoes and pansies growing well. We made sure they all have plenty of water and tomato feed to help produce strong stems.

The top shelf is bursting with Chillies, sweet peppers, chives and lavender. Jacy from the Rangers has the strongest tomato plant growing, the Bisto pot is still going strong!!

Last week, Georgia helped to sow the onion sets. This week she noticed they had grown, she asked if she could sow some more. Tracie asked Georgia to help prepare the soil for the seeds, Georgia got stuck in by raking the soil.

Jack came over and asked if he could help, Tracie gave Jack baby sweetcorn and carrots to sow. He then helped to cover the raised bed with mesh, this is because the birds keep attacking the onion sets and seeds.

Garden Classroom, rangers, Seedlings, Uncategorized, wanderers

Finding #liverpoolkindnessrocks

Posted on 1st Apr 202110th Aug 2021 by Tracie Dowling

Today we have all been on a trip to Croxteth Park Hall and joined in the ‘Liverpool Kindness Rocks’ challenge. We had to look high and low for painted rocks hidden around our parks.

Some stones have been placed with paint for you to take home and decorate yourself. Once decorated you then hide them in a different park. I wonder who will find the most, seedlings, rangers or wanderers?

Everyone said Emma would win! We were all right, she found not one but two! A lovely shiny leaf and a ‘Thank You NHS’, they were both in a tree stump.

Jacy found the next one, he remembered he had seen something a week ago when he was in the park with his mum. He didn’t go and investigate it then, but he went over to the place he thought he had seen it and it was was still there! One to the Rangers!

Georgia from the Seedlings found this beautiful ladybird rock near the playground, one to the Seedlings!

Georgia loved the shine on the ladybird and said it was really smooth and pretty.

We Left These Stones For Someone to Find

Where’s This One We Hid? Good Luck Finding it!

Rocks We Found at Walton Hall and Hid in Croxteth Park

It was soon time for lunch and we all sat next to the park and the older children went on the exercise equipment and worked up a hunger so came back and had lunch.

The Rangers loved climbing the trees and getting stuck, luckily they were able to help each other to get over and off them. They worked well together and made treehouses.

We all thought Jacy’s was the biggest and brightest of all.

Last but not least we went home and ended our day by the campfire roasting marshmallows nom nom.

Garden Classroom, Seedlings

Gardeners’ World Recommends…

Posted on 28th Mar 202128th Mar 2021 by Tracie Dowling

Every Saturday morning and my day off, first thing I always do is stick the kettle on, get the tea pot out and pop in a bagel to toast.

I then go into the snug and pour out my first cuppa of the day (and I have quite a few!!)

Next it’s feet up, cat on lap and on goes Friday night’s Gardeners’ World. Our Monty Don brightens up the morning. He tells me how to grow all the fruit and vegetables the children love to eat. I have my jotter ready for recommendations and what I need to do for that weekend.

This week our Monty recommended Padron Chillies. Well my face dropped! I can’t stand Chillies, way too hot for me! Monty went on to say they are not hot but fruity!

Shall I give them a go? I chickened out, thinking there’s no point getting them when we have other types chillies growing for the children and our families.

Monday morning who’s ringing my door bell? It’s Granny Smith waving a bag of Padron Chillies!

She says “Our Monty recommended these chillies last night on Gardeners’ World!”

“Really?” I said “I never watch it!” Hehehe.

So I think about it for a while, well if I have to try them, Emma and the children do too!

Georgia did a thumbs up, she said it was delicious.

Emma thought it was sweet but it repeated on her.

Sophie and Luke wouldn’t try it at all

I was so brave, I had two bites! It wasn’t hot in-fact, it’ll be lovely in a Chicken Kebab! Mixed reviews from the children, but thanks Monty Don for recommending the Padron Chillies!

Tracie x

family, Garden Classroom

My Dad and Rosie

Posted on 11th Mar 202111th Mar 2021 by Tracie Dowling

This is my dad Alan, he and my mum started my passion for Gardening and outdoor learning when I was young.

My dad worked in the Horticulture business for many, many years. He’s now retired, so he has all the time he needs to potter around his garden, instead of maintaining other peoples’ gardens.

Dad’s garden is amazing, he lives in Boston, England in the middle of the most amazing countryside. I think he should share his knowledge and garden with us all, so I am adding him to our Garden Classroom blog.

One of his lifetime ambitions is to have a beehive and this year he is finally making that dream come true.

This is Rosie, my step mum. She has been encouraging my dad to set up beekeeping and has been busy growing a wildflower meadow for the bees to collect pollen.

Rosie is also passionate about their garden and providing wildlife which will enhance the bee’s environment.

My brother Jonathan bought Rosie a camera to go in her bird box for her birthday a few years ago.

This year a bird has already made themselves at home! We will follow the bird over the next year to see what they do.

Garden Classroom, Seedlings, wanderers

Exercise in Lockdown

Posted on 18th Feb 202119th Feb 2021 by Tracie Dowling

We all made the most of our hours exercise today in Stanley Park. Jacey made everyone laugh pricking his bottom on a Yucca bush.

The children went on a treasure hunt and they found some Snowdrops, Purple Crocuses, lovely Red Dogwood and a Mugo Pinewood which looked very prickly.