Linda wrote about a space alien garden which she was helping her 10 year old son to create. They were growing the most bizarre looking plants that they could find and Linda suggested that this garden could be decorated with old space themed toys. Linda also suggested that a space alien scarecrow might be appropriate for this garden and she encouraged children and their parents to use their imaginations when creating one. Maybe the scarecrow "would have just one big eye or lots of eyes. What do you think an alien should look like? How many arms or legs? What will the head be? What kind of clothes? You could even spray paint the whole scarecrow silver, green, or another color once it is built. Have fun creating!"
In an article on kids and yard art which Linda wrote for Suite 101's annual Tacky Yard Art contest, she pointed out that many garden ornaments that adults tend to sneer at are "actively sought after and deeply loved by children. Ornamentation such as a flock of pink flamingos, the complete ceramic set of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, brightly painted ceramic mushrooms and frogs, plastic statues or bugs, pink doll furniture, a group of gnomes, etc. are items of beauty in the mind of many children. These make the garden a place they want to play and spend time in. It removes the idea that a garden is just to work in and no more. I know we all want gardening to be fun and enjoyable for our children. We want them to take pleasure in their gardens and to learn to love gardening. My son enjoys learning when he interacts with the plants, insects, yard art, etc. much more so than if he was only allowed to plant and weed. Playing in his garden allows him to learn so much more than textbooks will teach him about his world."
That last sentence summed up Linda's approach to gardening with children. If her point of view appeals to you, then you should explore all of Linda's articles. It will be time well spent.
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