"Children have an anxious concern for living beings, and the satisfaction of this instinct fills them with delight. It is therefore easy to interest them in taking care of plants … Nothing awakens foresight in a small child, who lives as a rule for the passing moment and without care for the tomorrow, so much as this. When he knows that animals have need of him, that little plants will dry up if he does not water them, he binds together with a new thread of love today’s passing moments with those of the tomorrow." – Montessori M. (1967) The Discovery of the Child. NY: Ballantine Books. pp 71-72.
Today is March 7th. Spring is in the air, and we are eager to plant! We have fertile soil, water, our love for nature and a strong desire to have something growing (even if in planters for now). It has been pretty cold, but for the next few days, the forecast is high 70oF and sunny, and we are eager to have our plants in the soil to enjoy the upcoming warm sunny days.
READY to PLANT …
What can be a better gift for a child than flower bulbs, seedlings or a fruit-producing plant? Living Montessori-way at home is about enjoying everyday life with your children, incorporating them into your daily activities, having them share your day – be part of your life.
STRAWBERRY
Strawberry sequoia: 6-8" H, plant 2" deep; spacing 12-24", plant with onion.
One month after planting
"Children are also attracted by - plants. One Children’s House did not have any land that could be tilled, so flower pots were set out all around a large terrace. The children never forgot to water the plants with a little watering can …" Maria Montessori (1967) The Discovery of the Child. NY: Ballantine Books. pp 71-72.
1.5 months after planting – first strawberry florets.
End of May (2.5 months after planting).
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| from white to pink … | … to red within one week |
Finally, early summer harvest!
FREESIA
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Freesia: height 18", plant 2" deep in the ground; spacing 2", plant with Day Lilies |
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Freesia blooming 3 months after planting.
"One morning I found [children] all seated in a circle on the floor around a magnificent red rose that had opened up during the night. They were silent and peaceful, completely absorbed in contemplation …" Maria Montessori (1967) The Discovery of the Child. NY: Ballantine Books. pp 71-72.
Aquilegia
DAHLIA
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Dahlia (sun-lovers bloom summer through fall) height 36-48", plant 6" deep so no shoots are showing, spacing 12-16"; plant with Lilies |
Dahlia finally in bloom – 4 months after planting.
TOMATOES
A tomato is actually a fruit: it is seed-bearing, and it comes from a flower.
4 months later – we cannot wait until our first tomato ripens!
First harvest!
We planted these tomato seeds according to Vladimir Megre's Anastasia notion that if the plant has the information about a person planting it, the plant will extract from the soil the most beneficial nutrients and minerals for the person growing it! The idea is to hold the seeds in your mouth for few seconds before planting so that the "seed" can collect the information necessary to produce the most beneficial outcome for its grower.
It is a Labor Day weekend: Adrian and Julia have been busy helping Daddy put up a new mailbox – screwing, hammering, gluing … And then, having played and enjoyed the soil to their most satisfaction, children were ready to taste the fruit of their labor – this was the best tasting tomato ever!
We look forward to more harvest 🙂
Adrian was looking very closely and noticed few new flower-buds emerging…
Watching nature unfold before child's eyes is magical!
Adrian realizes that the tomato is still a "baby" and needs to grow, just like him 🙂
Second harvest – Mid September: small but yummy!
It is the end of October, and our tomatoes are blooming again!
It is the middle of October now, but with all the warm weather, our flowers are about to bloom again! Children are so happy to see the fruit of their labor – just to know that they have grown them from little flower bulbs.
Dahlia about to bloom …
Dahlia is in a large brown pot.
Purple Dahlia blooming.
Purple Dahlia in full bloom.
A bug on a Purple Dahlia.
Yellow Dahlia
Tricyrtis ("Blue Wonder") is about to bloom.
Tricyrtis – an exotic flower indeed!
Another Tricyrtis blooming in late Fall!
Tricyrtis - "Blue Wonder".
It is a middle of November, and we had to move our tomatoes inside since we had freezing temperatures at night. The tomatoes are thriving, and Adrian cannot believe that he has grown from the little seeds he had planted in the Spring!
Read more about our tomatoes in November here.
We had a nice harvest in time for Christmas! (See more here).
Do you plant with your children? If yes, what? I love to read your comments:)
2 Comments
I think gardening is very important for children. It is kind of miracle they touch when placing the seeds and than watching the plants growing! I think very soon you will be surrounded by beautiful flowers and eat your own strawberry! The most important is the fact that children will fall in love with gardening forever!
I cannot agree more – what ever you are exposed to in your childhood, stays with you forever, even if it is dormant at times. Eventually, what ever was laid in you by your parents will “sprout” … it has to 🙂