grown with love – Page 4 – Tracie's Treasures

family, Garden Classroom, Seedlings

Garden Challenge 2021: Phyllis’ May Garden

Posted on 12th May 202110th Aug 2021 by Tracie Dowling

Phyllis has been working hard in her Garden and all the plants are growing well.

The nets Phyllis has had to put up isn’t to stop the birds and pests, its to protect the crops from Hebe the cat!

What a pickle Hebe is! Everywhere Phyllis is, Hebe’s not far away causing mayhem!

All the vegetables are looking lush and growing big and strong. Phyllis has to keep mowing the grass to make it look nice and tidy.

The fruit is coming along too! There will be lovely ripe strawberries to pick and eat, they will go well with scones and cream in June! Something for us to look forward too!

Mind you that’s if they actually get to the kitchen! I know a few Treasures who like to pick and eat them before Phyllis gets a chance!!

Frank has made a Tomato planter in the greenhouse, Phyllis has planted the tomato plants the seedlings have grown for her, there are cucumbers growing too! All you need is onions and you have a salad!

Phyllis has also got lots of lovely colourful flowers around her garden to encourage the bees and butterflies. She has sent me pictures of them, below are my favourite ones. I bet they smell amazing.

family, Garden Classroom, rangers, Uncategorized

Garden Challenge 2021: Gemma’s May Update

Posted on 12th May 202110th Aug 2021 by Tracie Dowling

At the beginning of May, Gemma sent us some pictures of her garden vegetable raised beds that she had made. They have come on so well and are all starting to grow nice and strong.

Its mid-May now and only two weeks since the above pictures and the raised beds have grown so much! Gemma and the children are doing so well, they must all have green fingers!!

Chloe has been helping Gemma after school with watering and trying to keep Cooper their dog from jumping on them! All our pets want to join in with gardening!

Garden Classroom, Seedlings

Earth Day with the Seedlings

Posted on 22nd Apr 202110th Aug 2021 by Tracie Dowling

We had a lovely celebration today for Earth Day. The children started the activities by wanting to sing ‘Happy Birthday World!’

The first activity we did was to walk around the front garden. We saw lots and lots of ladybirds, beetles, ants and chaffinches singing in the tree next door.

Emma and the children finished their ‘World’ project. When Tracie asked Georgia what her work was all about she said “I’m wishing, I’m wishing for a country because I want to go for an adventure!” Sophie shouted she liked “the happy world” and Fearne joined in saying “rubbish makes the world sad.”

We asked what makes us enjoy our world? Georgia said “When we recycle, it makes our world happy.” Fearne said she puts her rubbish in the bin and she loves the flowers that grow in our garden.

Tracie asked Alfie what makes the world happy? “Biscuit” shouted Alfie. Tracie said that would make Alfie happy! We finished the session singing “Happy Birthday World” and If You’re Happy And You Know It.

Garden Classroom, Uncategorized

Strawberry Potting On with the Seedlings

Posted on 21st Apr 202110th Aug 2021 by Tracie Dowling

Today the seedlings and Tracie went over to the greenhouse to check on their strawberry seeds.

Georgia said she thought there will be loads of strawberries all ready to eat! Tracie said it was too early in the year for strawberry picking, we just want strong healthy plants at the moment.

We opened the door and peaked in, Georgia huffed, “No strawberries in here!”

Tracie took a tray from the side and showed everyone. These are the seedlings we sowed and they have all grown really well, in fact, so well we need to re-pot them so they can get bigger!

Tracie explained to a disappointed Georgia and Sophie that the plants need to grow big and strong. When it’s June and we have lovely hot weather little white flowers will appear, then the strawberry fruit will soon be here.

Tracie took the trays of strawberry plants over to the table where she had prepared soil, toilet roll inserts, scissors and gardening tools ready for repotting the growing plants.

First the seedlings cut each toilet roll inserts into 3 pieces. Then they carefully placed them all into a tray. The seedlings took turns to fill each roll with soil.

Using a fork tool, Tracie carefully moved each seedling into a roll. The Seedlings took turns to gently push them down into the soil.

The plants now have little individual pots to give them space to grow.

All the seedlings worked hard together as a team to re-pot them and are really looking forward to the summer when we can all eat strawberries for afternoon tea. Maybe a game of tennis too!!

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.

family, Garden Classroom, rangers

Garden Challenge 2021: Chloe Sowing Seeds

Posted on 12th Feb 2021 by Tracie Dowling

Chloe helped her mum, Gemma to plant seeds in the warmth of her home. She used egg boxes and recyclable coloured flower pots.

They will be putting them on the windowsill in the conservatory, until they have germinated and grown enough to be planted in their garden.

Garden Classroom, Seedlings, wanderers

Avocado Growing

Posted on 9th Feb 202111th Aug 2021 by Tracie Dowling

Two years ago we decided to grow an avocado stone. The Little Seedlings tried the Avocado fruit. Only one out of five Seedlings liked it!

We had another go last year. This time we placed the stone into water using a special ‘Avoseedo’ tool. We waited for it to grow and after about nine weeks the stone started splitting.

About six weeks later, a small sprout appeared at the tip and roots began to form at the bottom. Two months went by… then the roots and shoots began to get stronger. In June, we planted the small tree into a pot with soil.

We were given another stone by our neighbour and decided to try growing that too. We now have two thriving trees.

family, rangers, Seedlings, wanderers

Reflecting on our Growing Family!

Posted on 5th Feb 20218th Feb 2021 by Tracie Dowling

To Tracie and Emma, Thank you both for the last year and a half, for all your care and fun that you have given Niamh. She loves it at Tracie’s Treasures and has met some lovely friends. We are so grateful for all your hard work and we know Niamh will miss you all! Lots of love, Christine, Gary and Niamh.

We had that #FlashbackFriday feeling this afternoon so we sat down to take a look through all of the lovely cards we’ve received from Mummies and Daddies over the years. Thinking about all memories we’ve had together and the children we’ve watched grow from Little Seedlings right the way through to Wildlife Rangers

To Tracie, Emma and all at the nursery, Thank you for looking after me on a Wednesday! See you all in September, Love Connie xx

To Tracie and all your helpers, I can’t thank you all enough for the help and care you have given our son over the years. You have all been positive role models and have enhanced his development both emotionally and educational. I will miss you all. Ty will always have great memories and we will ensure he never forgets. We wish you many, many more years in making a positive difference in many more children’s lives. Thank you!!! Love Chelle & Richie xxx

Sometimes our little ones move up to big school. Sometimes they move away. Sometimes they’re only term time. And other’s come just for the holidays!

Dear Tracie, Thank you for taking such amazing care of both Martha and Ivor for years now! It makes me really sad to think of him not coming every week, but he is happy knowing he will get to come back “just like Martha does.” I am so grateful and feel so lucky to have had you there to make them both feel welcomed and happy and secure. All my love, Nina xx

We’re always sad to see our friends depart when they grow up or move away, but we feel lots of love when we’re sent pictures and photographs or cards and thank-yous!

To Tracie, A great big thank you for taking care of Fearne. You make her time at yours so enjoyable and she is coming on so much. She loves going to see you all. Thank you again, love Fearne and Family xxx

We love watching you all grow, learn and develop so we keep this file for all the memories with have with you!

Dear Tracie, we would like to thank you for all the support you have offered we and our children over the past four years. Both Leo and Lily Mai have really enjoyed their time with you and other members of staff. Both of us and the children will truly miss being with you, but we know you will be grateful to help. You are a star, thank you so much. Lots of love from Antonia, Justin, Leo and Lily Mai xxx

We hope to see you all when you’re grown up and to keep in touch! Lots of love from Tracie and Emma! x

family, Garden Classroom

Garden Challenge 2021: Tracie’s Focus Area

Posted on 4th Feb 20218th Feb 2021 by Tracie Dowling

Tracie has a lot of nooks and crannies where she grows in her garden and she has decided to use the back end of the garden (where she gets the most sun!) for her growing challenge.