kids

We’ve met so many kids over the years (as young as 10 months old) who really get a kick out of gardening. While kids and teachers are on a much-needed break from school next week, and the weather warms up, try a fun gardening project at home!

March is the perfect time to plant vegetables from seeds, including beans, okra, radishes, pumpkins, and watermelons. Now is also a great time to start small tomato plants, peppers, cucumbers, squash, eggplant, and strawberries. You don’t need to be an expert or have a ton of space to get started – these fruits and veggies can be grown in garden beds or in containers. Kids love watching their plants start to grow and getting to eat their fresh and healthy food once its ripe!

Fruits and veggies are fun and so are flowers! Plant Cosmos, Zinnias, and Sunflower seeds now to get beautiful color and attract butterflies and birds. Marigolds and Petunias are nice and easy!

We have child-sized gardening tools and gloves, colorful flags, bird houses, bug houses, and all the seeds, plants, and supplies you might need to create a fun space for kids to enjoy gardening.

-Jesse

This Saturday, May 25th, bring the kids and we will give them a small blooming plant for them to give to a friend or relative in need of a little kindness – in honor of Mister Rogers’ Day of Kindness.

Last summer, James and I went to the Alamo Drafthouse to see “Won’t You Be My Neighbor”, PBS’s documentary about Fred Rogers. Wow, it’s a tearjerker -in a good way! Academy award-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville “takes us beyond the zip-up cardigan and the land of make-believe, and into the heart of a creative genius who inspired generations of children with compassion and limitless imagination” (Rotten Tomatoes).

The May 12th issue of our Corpus Christi Caller Times had a story on Mister Rogers that got us thinking. Fred Rogers used the number 143 to say, “I love you”, as each digit reflects the number of letters in each word of the phrase. May 23rd is the 143rd day of the year, and there’s a movement in his home state of Pennsylvania to honor Mister Rogers with a day of kindness; Gill’s is getting on board!

This Saturday, bring the kids and we will give them a small blooming plant for them to give to a friend or relative in need of a little kindness – in honor of Mister Rogers’ Day of Kindness.

While you’re here, we’d love your child to write a short note about who is getting their plant and why. We’ll share the responses in an upcoming garden blog!

-Sally Gill

A few weeks ago, we held an event in the garden center in honor of Mr. Rogers’ Day of Kindness. We gave away small flowering plants to kids for them to give to someone else. We asked the children to tell us about who they chose to give their plant to and why; here’s what they had to say!

“Mommy, because she makes good spaghetti.”

“Mrs. Garza, because you are my teacher.”

“Gwen, because you are my best friend – love, Abby”

“Ms. Norquist, because you are kind, you are nice, and fun.”

“Mom & Dad, because they care, give me food, provide me with a home, let me go to school, and love me!”

“Mommy, because I love you!”

“Grandma, because its been a long time to see her so I want to give a gift to her.”

“Grandma, because summer is here!”

“Mom, because I love you.”

“Ms. Amanda, because she says Hi.” -Wyatt

“Mommy, because she is the greatest.” – Bryce

“Mom, because I love you!” – Harlee

“Nonna, because I love you.”

“Rosa & Santos, because _________”

“Sharon, because we love you and appreciate you!” – Olive

“Grandma, because when I cry she makes me feel better.”

“Mom, because we have fun!”

“Miss Carol, because she is great!

“Mom, because she’s nice.”

“Lola, because I love her.”

Be Inspired! Take a stroll around our garden, enjoy the sounds of water & nature, discover the beauty a summer landscape has to offer! Rest under one of our shade trees, have lunch with a friend, let the kids play in our playground while you shop for something new to add to your slice of paradise. We love making our slice a place for everyone to shop & enjoy!

-Debbie

As we continue to monitor public health guidance and talk to our friends at other garden centers across the country, we’re reminded how important gardening is right now, at a time when sunshine and fresh air are especially good for us all.

While you’re spending more time at home, why not start a small food garden? Now is a great time to plant squash, cucumbers, peppers, okra, and lots of different herbs. A fun food project for kids (and adults too) is a 3 Sisters Garden. The 3 Sisters (corn, beans, and squash) all benefit each other when planted together, and you can get a sizeable harvest from just a 4’ x 4’ space.

Or find a not-so-exciting spot in your yard and get creative! Now is THE time for Spring flowers like Zinnias, Begonias, and Pentas. Periwinkles will be here very soon. If you’re planting flowers in the ground, be sure to condition your soil with compost. If you’re planting in pots, a good potting mix goes a long way. Use a good organic fertilizer when planting for healthy plants and better blooms.

Since we’re limiting our close contact with people for now, gardening can provide us with a connection to other living things – plants and wildlife. We planted a small garden here at Gill’s with Butterfly Weed, Gregg’s Mistflower, Jerusalem Sage, Shrimp Plant, and more to attract pollinators (bees, butterflies, hummingbirds) and it’s taken off in just a few weeks!

-Jesse

kids

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