My 9-year-old son grew some chia sprouts as part of a project in which he was learning about families of plants.
It was extremely easy to grow the sprouts. He half-filled a small container with potting soil. He sprinkled a bunch of chia seeds over the top of the moist dirt. He then set a folded up, wet paper towel directly on top of the seeds, covering them completely. … Continue reading
My boys and I have watched several different types of insects move through their life cycles. In past years, we’ve watched ants make amazing tunnels. We’ve observed as tiny caterpillars grew large, secreted a chrysalis, and emerged as butterflies (see HERE). We’ve seen ladybugs transform from larvae, to pupa, and then into the adult ladybugs we all recognize.
This week, we watched over a hundred praying mantis nymphs emerge from a single egg. … Continue reading
“What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
With Spring’s arrival, all sorts of people are out working in their yards. It’s wonderful that this time of year gets people outdoors and beautifies our cities and towns. However, for many people, their vision of a beautiful yard sends them running for chemical herbicides and pesticides to rid their landscapes of dandelions and other “pests”.… Continue reading
We’re slowly working on reclaiming the garden spaces around our home that have been awash in weeds since the big Boulder flood came through our yard and home in 2013. Last year we pulled all of the weeds in one bed and planted a bunch of strawberries. While they haven’t spread as much as I thought they would, we’re thrilled that they came back again this year (I love perennials) and seem to be doing well.… Continue reading