The Children’s Garden at Stanley Park

December 2005

Karen E. Templeton

PURPOSE

• Provide a safe environment where children of all ages can enjoy the beauty and mystery of nature.

• Encourage and inspire learning, curiosity, and love of plants and nature in children.

• Provide training for teachers who would like to include gardening and an outdoor classroom in their curriculum.

• Let children have FUN!!!!!

What do Children Want?

• Fruit trees

• Flowers

• Tree-houses

• Ponds

• Birds

• Cornstalks

THE DESIGN CONCEPT

• A Grand Entrance Area

• Playgrounds

• A Cultivated Garden Area

• A Natural Woodland Area

The Children’s Garden Main Entrance

• Picture of MAIN GATE to be inserted here:

Children’s Playground

Actual photos of new playscape to be shown here.

A Cultivated Garden Area

• A Child’s Playhouse

• A Mulberry Fortress

• An Evergreen Maze Garden

• A Herb Garden w/Sun Dial

• A Flower Garden

• A Vegetable Garden including popcorn, pumpkins and gourds

Child Playhouse

(drawing of playhouse to be inserted)

The Disabled Garden

• Photos/drawings of wheelchairs, ramps, etc. to be included

The Garden Size

• Everything in the garden the children’s garden from doorways, arbors and playhouse is to be child sized.

Flower Garden

Grandma’s Porch

• Photo to be drawn

Plant Selection

• Interest and Delight Children

• Ensure Maximum Color, Form, Fragrance. and interest from spring to fall

• Include as many Native Plants as possible.

• Hardy and drought tolerant

• Come from local nurseries

Garden Docents

• Recruit and train volunteers to be friendly, knowledgeable figures in the Garden.

CONCLUSION

• Children need to have contact and meaningful experiences with plants and gardens.

• Children’s gardens are gardens of JOY that tickle our hearts and mind with childlike, effervescent energy and delight.