Spring Gardening

I have read many blogs with beautiful seasonal pictures of homeschool kids doing all sorts of different outdoor explorations. I have always wanted to be that sort of homeschool mom, but the truth is, I'm not. I am the reading, museum, crafting sort of homeschool mom. So when it comes to the science I am always a bit disappointed in myself for not being all naturalistic, and full of wonder a la Charlotte Mason. So imagine my surprise when I found a new garden outside my kitchen window this weekend. Yes, I was the one who put butterfly garden seeds in the girls' Easter baskets but that didn't mean I actually thought I'd see the project through to fruition. Luckily my husband is much more industrious than I am.... We already had a basic bed there but Thomas decided to add another layer of boards along with 12 bags of soil to get the bed up higher and to improve drainage. Savannah and Ellie spread the soil making sure it was all even. They then planted their seeds. Here are the girls feeling quite proud of themselves. Notice the corner seat behind Savannah. She came up with that idea. Ellie liked it so we (um, I mean Thomas) added another corner seat for her at that end. We (again also Thomas) also added a little table at that end. It is just big enough for a glass of water or a cup of colored pencils just in case the girls inherited a different science gene and want to sit out in their garden and do nature studies once the plant sprout and bloom. While they are out there braving the heat and the bugs, I will be sitting inside at the kitchen table sipping a coke and reading my book and giving them big smiles of encouragement.