Garden ideas for tiny people

Hi all

I am very proud to say that I am a new dad. My first son is now a week old. Obviously I want to do the best for him, and that includes getting the garden sorted.

By mid summer, he will be old enough to go into a play pen on the lawn, but wont be allowed to get in amongst anything (not sure when they start crawling).

So, here's where I'm looking for ideas. I want to plant the borders out in such a way that he gets as much stimulus from the garden as possible. I want him to here bees buzzing, see all sorts of flying things, pick up a range of different scents, and see lots of shapes and colours.

The only trouble is I'm still very much learning the ways of gardening, so I'm not sure what to plant in order to attract the bees and butterflies, while at the same time giving a range of scents and colours.

Obviously I want to avoid anything too toxic, because by next summer he will be a lot more mobile than he will be this summer.

Any ideas?

Cheers

 

Hi Clueless, first off many congratulations on the birth of your first born son.

Even at that stage-in Summer, there will be little if anything he will be interested in, but shade is an absolute must so he will feel comfortable outside. I would concentrate on a lush lawn for him-and you so it wll be a pleasure when he starts to walk next year. Be careful about scent at first, it will attract bees and whilst it is lovely for a small child to watch them buzzing around it isn`t likely to impress you or his Mum very much to find one crawling over his lollipops this year.

So I advise shade for this first Summer, and a lawn for next. After that of course anything and everything goes-including eating worms LOL.

 

Well done on becoming a Dad

When you do start thinking about scents in the garden to attract bees, have a look at your neighbours gardens and see what plants/flowers they have that attract them!

 

"shade is an absolute must"

Yup, agree with that. I reckon chucking a rug under a small tree (dappled sunlight), or even a larger tree (full shade), will do the trick. Scatter some toys and he'll be happy as larry playing out in the fresh air.

My 9 year old is hell bent on growing Gourds. OK, so we've done that to good effect for the last two years - and had a pyramid of them in our hall to admire ... which is all fine and dandy by me. But I'd like to move on to something more productive - boring f**t that I am! - I've gently hinted that Butternut Squash [which I have never eaten, let alone grown!] is exactly the same BUT can be eaten. Not getting much take-up there ...

I've also bought a some Sunflower seeds - it comes with two little capsules of seeds, and a tape measure, and I though the kids could have a competition with Grandma. But I can't see that's an improvement on Gourds ... Killjoy-me-or-what?!!

 

Herbs!

 

Congratulations on getting the best job in the world becoming a parent has the best rewards you can ever imagine the rewards are many and you will be amazed how even the little things your little lad does will make your heart swell with so much love!:luv:

Regarding the garden I think you are doing the correct thing thinking ahead and making sure your garden is your little'uns domain, it is something we have always done ourselves making sure the garden is a fun and safe environment for our children.
Even though our boys are now grown-up we are thinking ahead for future little'uns grandchildren!

We have a herb section in our garden and it amazes little'uns (that visit us) you should see the fun they have picking and smelling the leaves, the curry plant is a big hit with them. Our back garden is kind of becoming a tropical garden with grasses etc. which is another good idea as the children can 'feel' the grasses and of course watch it as it blows in the wind.

Remember as your child grows things can change in the garden too a large home made sand pit can become mums alpine bed or a raised vegetable garden for the youngster which is ideal for getting them to grow and eat their own veg!

Good luck.Hel.xxx.

 

hi clueless,
congratulation's, but slow down a bit, just be happy with having sonny and
a lawn for now, and do the rest bit by bit, because sonny won't even notice this year,
you'll be running round pointing at bee's and butterfly's for him and he'll be eating grass
and dirt and laughing at you, lol, wait for the first xmas when he's got lot's of toy's and
all he want's is the wrapping paper and box's lol, and second year,lol.

 

Only a week in-the chronic insomnia hasn`t even begun yet, enjoy the energy you have whilst you have it, it won`t last much longer now-oh and another quick idea I had that I would have loved when my 14yrold son was a wee bairn is a hammock for lazing in the afternoon with him-on those very rare occasions when he did sleep.

Can`t get the lazy lump out of bed these days

 

"... he'll be eating grass and dirt and laughing at you, lol, wait for the first xmas when he's got lot's of toy's and all he want's is the wrapping paper ..."

so true.

I love the sketch of the little kid tearing open his present and saying:

"Wow, that's what I always wanted. What is it?"

 

Thanks for the useful advice everyone, I will certainly take it all on board.

I know that he won't consciously appreciate very much by this summer, but I'm a firm believer that subconscious memories affect our entire lives. He may not pay much attention to a bee buzzing or the scent of lavender, but these things will all soak into his subconscious. If he subconsciously associates bees buzzing and flower/herb fragrances with a time in his life when he feels most safe and secure, then hopefully when he is older he will have a deeper appreciation for nature.

I like the ideas and advice you've all posted up, and will be putting it into practice. Many thanks all.