We have had ups and downs during this year with our gardens. Here is a round up of how Phyllis’ gardening went..
Growing in Pots Door Step PlantingFrank’s WellHomemade Planter
These pictures are from Phyllis’ front garden, it gets full sun most of the day. The lovely well planter was made by Frank, he has hung bird feeders and hidden bird boxes in the roof. He also made the wooden tiered planter where the vegetables are growing for their yummy, fresh Christmas dinner.
Front GardenChristmas Dinner
Phyllis had a bumper crop of fruit and vegetables this year, here are a few pictures to show how well she did!
What a CropCarrotsBeetrootPeppersTomatoes Potatoes Netting From Pests New Raised BedsGrowing SeedlingsBeautiful Baby Cucumber Butternut Squash Chillies
It’s been a hard year and being in the garden has given Phyllis a project which she has thoroughly enjoyed. Next year Phyllis is going to focus on flowers, including a wildflower patch to encourage wildlife.
Leaves Turning RedFuchsia Canopy of ClimbersGrowing Well
No better way to prove how amazing it is to grow your own, a delicious fresh Sunday lunch! Where’s mine?
Back in April the Seedlings sowed pumpkin seeds in the vegetable plot hoping they would grow big for Halloween.
We had bought large pumpkins from the local supermarket last year and kept the seeds, dried them out and stored them in a paper bag to grow for this year. We hoped they would grow big and strong.
Pumpkin FlowerBaby Pumpkin
Unfortunately, our pumpkins haven’t grown as much as we hoped for yet so the Seedlings went to the shop and bought one for our activity.
First the Seedlings looked at the ones growing in the garden, they were way too small, green and some still had the flower on.
Martie Alfie
Next we looked at the shop brought pumpkin and Tracie cut it in half for the Seedlings to investigate.
They touched the skin and thought it was cold and hard. When the Seedlings were asked to touch the centre, two of the children said ‘yucky don’t want too’ but Martie prodded it with her finger and smelled it, she wasn’t impressed.
Leaf PrintingCharlie Concentrating Happy With Picture
Earlier, while out in the garden the seedlings picked some pumpkin leaves, for the activity they used green paint to make prints of the leaves onto paper.
Tracie cut the pumpkin in half and put it into some orange paint, the seedings swished the pumpkin to make sure it was covered in paint then used it like a stamper onto the prints of the leaves.
The seedlings made lovely pictures of the growing pumpkins in the garden. Alfie squished his pumpkin and the orange paint, mixed with the green to make an abstract painting.
The Finished Prints
The Seedlings loved the activity and we have displayed them in the front play room.
Over the summer holidays Poppy went to Grandad Smith and Nanny Rosie’s to see how their wildlife garden and beekeeping were coming along.
Buddleia and a Butterfly Nanny Rose, Trixi and PoppyBird HousesGiant asunflower
Poppy’s sister Chelsea came along for the trip, she loved learning all about the wildlife and the bees in her grandad’s garden. We all talked about nature, looked at the bird houses and saw some footage of the baby birds learning to eat while still in the bird box via a webcam. Never too old to learn!
We brought along some tadpoles from our pond in Liverpool and set them free in Grandad’s pond, hopefully he will have some frogs next time we visit. Do you think they will croak in a scouse accent?
We sat and watched the tadpoles swimming around settling in their new environment. While we were watching them we saw dragonflies, water fleas, snails, hoverflies and lots of beautiful butterflies.
Growing CucumbersExtra Long Baby Cucumbers Cabbages
We looked around Grandad’s vegetable garden, he has grown lots of lovely vegetables and fruit this year. Poppy went hunting and found cucumbers, tomatoes, grapes and lemons in the greenhouse.
LeeksLettuce BeetrootBeansSweetcorn Allotment
In the main garden we saw Sweetcorn, Beetroots, Green Beans, Cabbage, leeks, strawberries and lots of Raspberries.
Poppy picked so many Raspberries we had them for tea, snack and breakfast!
Week 4 already! Wow the summer holidays are going fast!
Emma and Izzy
Izzy has had lots of fun with everyone and has settled into our setting really well. She is always so happy, bubbly and watches everyone playing. She lets us know when she wants something or not, and thrives on all the interactions with children, Emma and Myself.
Peek-a-booPlay Centre Here I Am!
We had fun at the play centre, Jack loved looking through the peep bubbles and trying to point out his friends.
Charlie and Martie both finished off their ‘Liverpool Kindness Rocks’ paintings so next week we can all go out and hide them in all the parks we are visiting.
Tracie, Martha, Ivor, Jack, Sophie and Georgia all went to the Odeon to watch ‘The Croods 2’. It was very funny and everyone behaved so well they had popcorn and sweets for treats!
Say CheeseSweet Smelling ShopUmbrellas ComicHaving a Funtime Fruity Smells
While we were all in the Odeon Gemma took Poppy around town. They had lots of fun, in and out of lots of different shops. Poppy said the sweet shop smelled so sweet and Lush, which sells bath bombs, smelled like fruit! They both loved looking at the display made out of colourful umbrellas and comics. What a sensory time they had!
Izzy in the Activity Centre
At the ‘Liverpool Lighthouse’ this week we went for fun, games and dancing. We played musical statues, musical bumps, superheroes, dancing and tag. We also took part in ‘make your own’ lunch. We all got to make a healthy bag full of fruit, veg and sandwiches which we took to the park for a picnic.
The game of the week was ‘UNO’ everyone joined in so we ended up using two decks of cards. Chloe won the most games, Poppy the most tantrums and Jack the most ‘give aways’.
Poppy and Izzy loved playing together, Poppy read Izzy stories, sang songs and had sensory mat play.
The soft play was used the most this week. The children used them as a playground, hiding seek, building, sleeping, relaxing and role play! Well worth the spends!
Miss MarthaIvorJack and MasonLearning to ClimbSleeping Martha! Hide and SeekBuildingHow Tall!
Last full week before our week off, then back to school. I wonder what fun we will be having?…
When Sophie and I walked around the garden, I asked her to pick out her favourite fruit and vegetables we are growing. Well, she chose these lovely Lilies. Not quite what I asked for but she’s right they are lovely.
Orange LilyWhite Lilies
While we are talking Lilies, look at our amazing 8 foot Lily trees. They tower so high and they are so fragrant you can smell them all around the garden.
Back to our fruit and vegetables, below is our cucumber and we have grown conjoined twins! Double the trouble and size! Poppy ate it in one sitting!! She said they were delicious.
Our apples are coming on nicely, they are getting plumper, Monty Don says you can tell when they are ready as they twist off easily. Guess we’ve got to keep waiting. Be worth it though. We also have onions, tomatoes and strawberries growing strong.
ApplesOnionsTomatoes Strawberries
In the greenhouse the Luffa vines are growing tall and strong. When they fruit the children are going to make luffa soaps.
Luffa
The Cucumbers and Chillies have now left the greenhouse and are in the garden growing strong. Tracie watered everything and added tomato feed to give them a boost.
Our new project this summer is the bath pond. We had our bathroom turned into a wet room and thought the cast iron bath could be up cycled into a large pond. Our growing tadpoles and frogs will have more space and we might even get some fish! We will add photos next time.
Phyllis has been busy collecting her fruits and vegetables that she started growing earlier in the year.
BeetrootPepper
Phyllis has grown some lovely beetroot which is Tracie’s favourite. They are tasty in a salad or as a compliment in a comforting Scouse. The peppers in the greenhouse are looking good! Chloe loves to munch on these for a healthy snack.
Tomatoes Pumpkin
At the moment the tomatoes are still green, but by next week with a lot of sunny weather, they will soon turn red and be ready to eat with the beetroot in a summer salad!
CarrotsAmazing
The carrots are looking fabulous watch out for any rabbits Phyllis this is their favourite snack!
As you can see, Phyllis has a vast variety of fruits and vegetables growing. Looks like all her time in the garden has paid off.
The weather turned too cold and wet for a couple of days. We went to the park on the Monday and got drenched so we all decided to have a games day. The sun ended up coming back out!!
What Am I?Am I Sweet?
We loved the game ‘Fast Fish’ it was fun rolling the dice and predicting the colours of the fish we had to rush and find. Jack beat Tracie and Martha beat everyone!
Connect 4 Fast FishBlue, Purple and Pink Go Go GoChloe and JackJacy is Ace at Chess!
Poppy and Sophia love anything Japanese at the moment so after the cinema we decided to pop in to Yo Sushi to try some new foods. The girls loved trying to use chopsticks, it made our lunchtime last forever!
Sophia Not So SureHaving a TryChop Sticks Collecting The Food
While in town, we decided to have a walk about. The girls loved climbing the suitcases on Hope Street.
Paddy’s WigwamReaching the TopLeaving Home? Statue
Back at our setting we were busy painting our rocks that we made last week.
Jack is a StarBig Jack Ivor and Martha SoohieIvor Loved Painting
Tracie and some of the children went on a trip to Acorn Farm. We went into the petting station and loved sitting still and stroking the animals. Tracie made a friend with a goat and Jack loved the meerkats.
Play Time Who You Looking At? Big RabbitPlaying The DrumSelfie Jack and The SheepChloeTime To Pet The AnimalsChickensCheeky Goats
Emma went on a trip to Hollywood Bowl. They all jumped on a bus, played a couple of games and had a lovely lunch! What a lovely fun end to a busy second week!
Wonder what fun we will have in week three!? The summer holidays are going fast!
We have had a lovely day today playing in the garden and going to Breckside Park.
Sophie Enjoying The Garden
Sophie looked at all the flowers and asked me to take photos of her favourites.
Lovely Blue
Pink Water Lily
Mason wanted to make a snail home using different items from around the garden. Jacy and Jack loved the idea and made their own. They asked me to choose my favourites. I explained they were all lovely and the snail will judge by going on the one it likes best.
Mason and Jack
Mason
Jacy
Mason
After playing in the garden it was time for lunch then off to the park.
Such Good Behaviour
The younger children enjoyed a kick about, quoits and catch the ball in the net. They ran about so much all they wanted was the pram, bottle and sleep. Job well done!
Sophie and Alfie
Mason Practicing
Catch
The bigger children set up the goal posts and had a kick about trying to see who could get the most goals. After about 2 hours and lots of sweat, tears and moans we decided to go back and have a cold drink and ice lolly’s. Four very over heated children!!
We have had a ball this week, the sun has been out every day and the children have all been so good!
So Tired!Izzy’s First Day
Alfie was so tired one day he was nearly asleep while playing! Izzy had her first day with us and she was such a little giggler, her favourite play was jumping up and down in the activity centre.
Jack and MasonTarget Practice Aiming SkillsNot Too SureJacy’s Snail HotelMason’s Snail GardenJack And MasonHabitats Football Goal Stroppy Poppy 🤣🤣Disney Cruise ShipAlbert DockPlutoJacy and MasonAll Aboard The Cafe How TallLocksDancing On Everyone’s HeadsStreet ChalkingMuseum Believe In Yourself JacyOops Maybe Not! 😱Jack The SkaterChit ChatAlfie’s GoGo PoppyLittle Skater So ConfidentWait For Me AlfieSkate Park
Tracie is so relieved it’s Friday, we have had an eventful week but now time for a few days rest, then it all starts again!
This is my Dad and Rosie’s garden in Lincolnshire, it is so beautiful and well kept. They both must spend all their time mowing lawns, dead-heading flowers and watering the plants.
Rosie has been working hard to produce a wonderful wildlife garden ready for my dad’s bees to arrive.
The Bee Hives
The garden has grown up so tall and I bet there are 1000’s of different insects thriving, living in the flowers.
Pathway of Wildlife
My dad has mowed a pathway to enable them to get through to the hives and greenhouse. I just want to go and run through, looking at all the different flowers there are.
All Dad and Rosie’s hard work has paid off and here is the evidence Thousands of bees have made it their home. They will be busy bees making lots and lots of delicious honey!
How do you all like your honey? I like mine on a chunk of crusty bread mmmm. Hopefully, later in the year I will be able to post photos of the honey!
Tracie's Treasures 