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!
Phyllis has definitely been working hard in her garden since we last visited her.
Bird Homes
Haven for Birds and Insects
Front Garden
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.
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.
The Rangers and Wanderers have been pretty busy this Easter holidays. They have been out and about visiting different parks on the bus, bike, car and walking.
The weather has been different every day! Its been hot, cold, wet, windy, sleeted and snowed all in the two week break!
Mason
Poppy
The older children have enjoyed the outdoors the most, they have climbed trees, made dens and been on a hunt for #liverpoolkindnessrocks
#liverpoolkindnessrocks we Found
Mason and Tracie put together a wood burner so we could toast marshmallows.
The children all loved eating the warm fluffy mallows, Jacy said they tasted warm and crunchy. Jack wanted more and Emma put the ‘seedlings’ Mallows in the middle of two biscuits to make it easier for them to eat!
Making a Campfire
Ivor
Martha
We have all enjoyed having Martha and Ivor come for a couple of days. They have both grown up so much and they loved seeing their old friends. Tracie has been looking after them since they were born and they are both part of our treasure family.
Sociable Lunchtime
Hello Niamh
Martha and Ivor asked where Niamh was? We explained she has moved back to Ireland, they were upset so we sent her a photo to say hello.
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?
Emma
Thank you George and Oliver
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.
Thank You Lisa
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!
Sparkling Leaf by JJO
Georgia from the Seedlings found this beautiful ladybird rock near the playground, one to the Seedlings!
Georgia Left One on a Log
Beautiful Ladybird
Georgia loved the shine on the ladybird and said it was really smooth and pretty.
We Left These Stones For Someone to FindWhere’s This One We Hid? Good Luck Finding it! Rocks We Found at Walton Hall and Hid in Croxteth Park
Exercise in the Park
Pasta Salad
Georgia Loved the Cake
Emma Filling her Face
Jack and Jacy
Tracie Camara Shy
Mason Looked High
Camp Making
Climbing Trees
Jacy was a Caveman
Jacy and Jack
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.
Cooling Marshmallows
Last but not least we went home and ended our day by the campfire roasting marshmallows nom nom.
The Little Seedlings said a farewell to Niamh back in December 2020 as she was moving back home to Ireland with her mummy and daddy.
Niamh Wearing The Apron She Made With Us
Since then, we have been sending pictures and messages to each other. Niamh sent us this picture of her, wearing the apron she made in the last week with us.
Hi Niamh
The Little Seedlings sent this picture back, asking her how she was and if she had settled in her new home.
Niamh Where’s Ours?
Niamh said she misses us all but she loves having mummy and daddy with her all the time.
Today we had a special message from Niamh, she was reading us her favourite book!
Poppy was very happy as it was called ‘Poppy and Sam’s Bedtime’ we are amazed how grown up Niamh has got! Talk soon, love the Little Seedlings.
Emma and the children have made these wonderful Mother’s Day cards for Sunday.
Have a Pot of Tea on Us
They made lovely prints and cards, Emma made templates of the word ‘Mum’ and placed them on-top of pink card. The children then used their fingers (some hands!) to make dots around the template so when it was removed the word Mum was highlighted with colour.
Leo Not Sure About Using Fingers
Emma adapted the prints for each child, Theo wasn’t too keen on finger painting so he used a paint brush.
Emma Wrote this Poem on the Back of the PrintsCard and Print
Charlie and Sophie chose to make a mosaic card by sticking coloured paper strips into a heart shape and colouring in the front with pre-drawn heart shapes.
Sophie
Fearne
Charlie
The children loved this activity and were all very proud to give them to their mummies. They proved this by asking every day since making them if they could take them home.
Tracie's Treasures 