Summer Gardening with Kids: Green Thumbs, Healthy Minds

The Positive Impacts of Gardening on Kids

Gardening is more than just a hobby; it's a wonderful way to nurture a child's development in multiple ways. Whether you're planting flowers, growing vegetables, or maintaining a small garden space, the benefits for children are profound and varied.


In today's digital age, children spend more time indoors than ever. Gardening provides an opportunity for kids to step outside, breathe fresh air, and engage with the natural world, fostering a sense of responsibility and appreciation for the environment. Beyond this connection to nature, gardening offers significant educational opportunities. It teaches children about science and biology, helping them learn about plant life cycles, soil composition, and the importance of water and sunlight.

Gardening can also introduce concepts like photosynthesis and the food chain in an engaging way.


One delightful benefit of gardening is how it encourages healthy eating. When children grow their own vegetables and fruits, they're more likely to try and enjoy them, leading to healthier eating habits. The excitement of harvesting their own produce can turn picky eaters into adventurous ones.

Gardening also promotes physical activity. Digging, planting, weeding, and watering involve physical exertion, helping to improve motor skills, strength, and overall fitness.


Gardening benefits mental well-being as well. Spending time in the garden can reduce stress and anxiety. The rhythmic activities involved in gardening can be soothing and meditative, and seeing the results of their hard work can boost a child's self-esteem and provide a sense of accomplishment.


Furthermore, gardening allows children to express creativity and imagination. They can design their own garden layouts, choose the plants they want to grow, and create garden decorations. This creativity can spill over into other areas of their lives, fostering innovation and exploration.

Gardening can also be a social activity, helping children develop valuable social skills. Whether working with family members or participating in community garden projects, children learn cooperation, sharing, and teamwork. These experiences can help them build stronger relationships and improve their communication skills.

Summer Fun Garden Projects

1. Plant a Butterfly Garden

Create a colorful haven for butterflies by planting nectar-rich flowers like milkweed, lantana, and pentas. Kids will love watching these beautiful insects visit your garden.


2. Build a Fairy Garden

Let your imagination run wild by designing a miniature fairy garden. Use small plants, pebbles, and tiny figurines to create a magical world. This project is perfect for sparking creativity in children.


3. Start a Vegetable Garden

Teach your kids where food comes from by planting a vegetable garden. Choose easy-to-grow veggies like tomatoes, cucumbers, and carrots. Watching their own food grow will be a rewarding experience for the whole family.

4. Create a DIY Bird Feeder

Recycle materials like milk cartons or plastic bottles to make bird feeders. Fill them with birdseed and hang them in your garden. It’s a great way to attract local birds and teach kids about wildlife.


5. Paint Garden Rocks

Collect smooth stones and let your kids paint them with bright colors and fun designs. These decorative rocks can be used to label plants or simply add a splash of color to your garden beds.

Gardening offers a multitude of benefits for children, from fostering a love for nature to encouraging healthy eating habits and providing physical and mental well-being. By involving children in gardening activities, we help them grow into well-rounded individuals who appreciate the beauty and importance of the natural world.

From Fairway to Fabulous—

Golf Course Home Yard Revamp

Check out the beautiful changes made to the front yard, featuring vibrant tropical plants and colorful landscaping that has matured beautifully over three years. Then, we take you to the newly finished backyard, highlighting the massive rock removal transformation and how we've used strategic plantings to protect the house from golf balls. You can take a look at some tips on landscaping choices and see how we've turned this space into a lush, functional oasis.

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Celebrate the Summer Olympic Spirit with Our

"Team USA" Combo!


Join us in celebrating the spirit of "Team USA" this July with our Olympic-themed container garden recipe. This vibrant and patriotic arrangement features a winning combination of red, white, and blue blooms that will ignite your patriotic pride. Featuring Salvia Summer Jewel Red, White Penta Dwarf, Vinca Soiree Kawaii, Blue My Mind, and Helichrysum Licorice Plant, this stunning display brings together a harmonious blend of colors and textures. Designed to thrive in the summer heat, this container garden is perfect for Florida summertime planters, with a splash of national pride adding lots of color to your outdoor space.


1. Salvia Summer Jewel Red: Salvia Summer Jewel Red is a vibrant red bloomer that serves as the thriller in this combination. Known for attracting hummingbirds and butterflies, it thrives in full sun and is drought-tolerant.


2. White Penta Graffiti: Dwarf Penta is a hardy plant with clusters of star-shaped white flowers that bloom throughout the summer. It is known for its heat and drought resistance and its ability to attract pollinators.


3. Vinca Soiree Kawaii: Vinca Soiree Kawaii features compact, abundant red flowers that add a touch of elegance to any garden. It thrives in hot, sunny conditions and is exceptionally low-maintenance, making it a perfect filler.


4. Blue My Mind: An improved variety of Blue Daze is a stunning blue flowering plant with a trailing habit, perfect for spilling over the edges of containers. It loves full sun and heat, contrasting the red and white blooms with a brilliant blue contrast.


5. Helichrysum Licorice Plant: Licorice, with its soft, silvery foliage, adds a unique texture and color to the arrangement. It is an excellent spiller that can tolerate hot and dry conditions, complementing the vibrant flowers beautifully.

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Signs and Solutions for Heat Stressed Lawns!

As summer temperatures soar in Florida, maintaining a healthy lawn can become challenging. Heat stress is a common issue that affects many lawns during the hottest months. Recognizing the signs of heat stress and knowing how to treat it can help keep your grass green and thriving.

Signs of Heat Stress

Discoloration:

One of the first signs of heat stress is a change in color. The grass may turn from a vibrant green to a dull bluish-gray. This is a clear indicator that your lawn is not getting enough water.

Wilting and Folding:

Heat-stressed grass blades often wilt or fold, appearing limp and lifeless. This happens because the grass is conserving water by reducing its surface area.

Footprint Test:

If your lawn is under heat stress, it won't spring back quickly after being walked on. Footprints or mower tracks will remain visible for longer periods.

Brown Patches:

Brown patches can develop in areas that receive the most sunlight or have poor soil conditions. These patches indicate severe heat stress and lack of adequate moisture.

Thinning Grass:

As heat stress progresses, you may notice thinning grass or bare spots where the grass has died off due to extreme conditions.

Treating Heat Stress

Proper Watering:

Deep watering is key to helping your lawn recover from heat stress. Watering early in the morning reduces evaporation and allows the grass to absorb moisture.

Raise Mowing Height:

Set your mower blades higher during hot months. Longer grass blades provide shade for the soil and reduce water loss through evaporation. This practice also promotes deeper root growth, making your lawn more resilient to heat stress.

Mulching:

Leave grass clippings on your lawn after mowing. Mulching helps retain moisture and provides essential nutrients as the clippings decompose.

Fertilize Wisely:

Avoid applying fertilizer during peak heat. Fertilizing can stress the grass further. Instead, fertilize in early spring and late fall when temperatures are cooler.

Aeration:

Aerating your lawn helps improve soil compaction and allows water, air, and nutrients to penetrate deeper into the soil. This process promotes better overall lawn resilience.

By recognizing the signs of heat stress early and implementing these treatment strategies, you can protect your lawn from the harsh summer heat. With proper care and attention, your lawn will stay green, healthy, and beautiful throughout the hottest months.


Help Your Pond and Fish Beat the Summer Heat

Aquascapes Inc., July 8, 2024


Record high temperatures across the nation create a number of challenges for people, pets, plants, and yes, even your water garden. You’ll want to keep a close eye on your pond, especially when the water temperature reaches 80 degrees or higher. If you don’t already have one, now is the perfect time to invest in a pond thermometer.

Warm water has a low capacity for holding oxygen, so you may start to see your fish gasping for air close to the water’s surface, or close to a fountain or waterfall. In addition, warm pond water leads to increased activity from your finned friends, and that means your fish require more oxygen at a time when it’s least available.


As your fish struggle for oxygen, they’ll become increasingly stressed. And stressed fish are more likely to develop diseases, which is a scenario you want to avoid. But take comfort in knowing there are things you can do to help your pond (and fish) beat the summer heat.

To optimize fish health during extreme heat, you want to ensure your fish have the best pond environment possible. It all starts with a well-designed water feature. Depth, plant coverage, shade, filtration, and circulation should all be considered when building a pond. A minimum depth of two feet is suggested so the fish can rest near the bottom where the water is cooler.

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Roaring Adventures and Botanical Bliss: Summer Family Fun in Jacksonville!

cattyshack.org
jacksonvillearboretum.org

Summer in Jacksonville, FL, offers endless family fun opportunities, and visiting local nonprofits is a great way to spend quality time together while supporting the community. One of our favorite spots is The Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary, where families can experience up-close encounters with rescued big cats and learn about wildlife conservation. Another fantastic destination is the Jacksonville Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, a beautiful natural oasis perfect for hiking, picnicking, and exploring diverse plant life. Both venues provide educational and entertaining experiences that make for unforgettable summer outings. For more information, visit their websites and plan your visit to these beautiful local attractions.

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Monday through Saturday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm / Sunday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
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We would like to thank you all for your continued support!

Earth Works Gardens | earthworksjax.com |996-0712 | 12501 Beach Blvd.