Family fun in the garden

Family fun in the garden
Sandra Batley - Flourish
When designing or creating a garden many things are
considered. One of the most important factors are the needs
and wishes of the family as a whole...Mum, dad, the kids and
the pets. As our lives get busier and people look for places to
retreat and relax in, the garden can become a great place to
have fun and bring the whole family together.
EXPLORING THE OUTDOORS
Whether your garden is big or small there are plenty of things
you can create to make the most of your space. Having a
functional area for dining and entertaining is important as it
brings friends and family together. It is great especially in the
warm summer months. Having places for kids to run about
and safely explore nature is important. Fresh air and exercise
around the garden is good for everyone. Kids, pets and some
adults love getting outdoors to enjoy the sunshine and
experience simple activities like kicking a ball around. If you
can allocate some space for a level lawn area. There are
some robust lawns that can be grown to handle high traffic
areas such as Rye If you have a large property with some
natural bush, why not create your own nature trail with
informal steps and pathways. Lights and garden art can add
interest and focal points along the way.
ACTIVIITIES IN THE GARDEN
Grow your own herbs and vege’s: Now these do not need
to be hard work or complicated nor large scale to create.
There are a lot of vegetables
and herbs that can be easily
grown in containers, pots or
in small garden plots.
Potatoes, tomatoes, beans,
strawberries, onions, salad
greens, parsley and basil are
all very simple to grow. If you
are limited for space ,
vegetables can be grown
amongst flowers. So why not make your garden creative as
well as edible. Kids love to help out by weeding or picking
fresh lettuce for a healthy salad for lunch or dinner.
Watch your plants grow: Growing your plants from seed is
a very rewarding experience. Seedlings can be raised in
trays, containers or directly into the ground.. To lessen
setbacks, harden seedlings to sunlight gradually before they
are planted into the garden. A good idea is to cover with
glass to maintain an even moisture and temperature and
place in a warm position until seeds germinate. As soon as
the first leaves remove the cover and allow the plants light
and ventilation. The young plants will be ready for
transplanting into the garden 3 – 4 weeks of planting the
seed. Seedlings should go into the soil with as little root
disturbance as possible. Plant out on a dull day or evening if
possible and gently water them in.
Some great flowers and herbs to grow from seed:
• Sunflowers
• Poppies
• Sweet pea
• Cosmos
• Pansies
• Basil
• Coriander
• Thyme
• Chives
• Parsley
Planting bulbs in pots: Late Summer /Autumn you can be
planting bulbs. They are one of natures most intriguing
creations. They grow, bloom and die back in a matter of
months, and then reappear just when had forgotten
about them.
If you are a newcomer to growing bulbs some of the easiest
to start with are Daffodils and Tulips. Almost all bulbs do well
in pots They are not overly fussy about
the type of soil as long as the soil is very
well drained. Use a quality potting
mix and make sure that the pots chosen
have large drainage holes In general,
bulbs should be planted so that its top is
two to three times the length of the bulb
away from the surface. Water the bulbs
and place them in a shady position for 4-
5 weeks. When the first shoots appear place the pot in full
sun and wait for the gorgeous display of flowers to appear.
Build you own garden hide away: Believe it or not but
some kids don’t like to hang around you feet all day. You can
give yourself some piece and quiet and give your kids a
place to hangout. Garden huts or tree house’s can be as
rustic or fancy as you wish. Utilize an established strong, old
tree to build a tree house in. Or clear a spot amongst the
garden to build a garden hut or play house Climbing ropes,
ladders and swings can be added for interactive, challenging
outdoor fun. Recycled building materials and a hearty dose of
Kiwi ingenuity go a long way for those DIY fanatics, other
wise there are companies out there who specialize in building
child friendly play houses. Please note, every council has
some rules about children’s play equipment, so check out
what you can and can’t build first. Tree huts and play houses
are important for kids as they provide endless hours of fun
and creativity.
Mosaics
Mosaics are a picture or other design constructed from
smaller pieces of broken tiles, glass, shells, stones, crockery
or other materials. There are some basic techniques and
some wonderful things you create such as colourful pots for
plants, creative inserts for your pathway, or wall plaques for
your garden shed or courtyard wall. This is a great way to
recycle old material and have some fun together as a family.
FUN WITH WATER
Kids and adults alike love the sound of water; to hear and
play with water in the garden is a great way to pass the time.
Water features, spa’s, ponds and swimming pools add a
dynamic feature to any space, however you do need to be
mindful of a few things.
Swimming pools and Spa’s
Every council has set guidelines. Basically you must comply
with the Fencing and Swimming Pools Act 1987. This act
exists to protect young children from the dangers of unfenced
swimming pools. Thus requiring owners to fence their pools.
Please check with your local council for swimming pool
regulations. Paddling pools that you can fill up and splash
about in on your lawn does not require a fence, however you
will need to be extra vigilant and watch children at all times.
continued...

Water features and ponds
If you are considering putting in a water feature or perhaps a
fishpond and you have small children, you will need to
consider the following;
• Young children can drown in only a few millimeters of water.
• Always watch you children around ponds, pools and water
features.
• Consider keeping the depth of the pond as safe as possible.
Councils require you keep the pond depth at a certain
depth. Anything deeper than and it will require fencing
around it.
Water slides
If you a big grassy slope and plenty of water, water slides can
give you hours of fun on a hot summers day. A simple piece
of polythene or plastic can do the trick. Be warned though, it’s
a quick way to muck up your lawn..
PLANTS IN THE GARDEN TO BE AWARE OF
The catch cry for today’s gardens is ‘low maintenance’. There
are a multitude of plants and planting themes that fit within
this category and that is another column all together. The
most important thing to consider when children playing in the
garden, is that they need to be kept safe. There are some
poisonous plants in New Zealand that can harm and even kill.
So, before you go putting just any old plant anywhere, even if
it has pretty flowers, get to know and identify those plants
that are not recommended for the garden.
The following are some to watch for;
Internal poisons (harmful if swallowed)
• Angel’s trumpet (Brugmansia candida) – North Island and
warmest parts of the South Island.
• Arums and arum lily (Arum species and Zantedeschia
aethiopica)
• Bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara) – mainly South Island and
lower North Island.
• Castor oil (Ricinus communis)
• Fox glove (Digitalis pupurea)
• Hemlock (Conium maculatum)
• Jerusalem cherry (Solarnum diflorum and S.
pseudocapsicum)
• Laburnum (Laburnum anagryoides) – mainly South Island
and southern half of North Island.
• Lantana (Lantana camara) – warmer parts of North Island
and Northrn ares of South Island.
• Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) – mainly south Island.
• Monkshood (Aconitum napellus) – mainly South Island an
colder parts of North Island
• Oleander (Nerium oleander)
• Persian lilac or white cedar (Melia azederach) – mainly
North Island.
• Potato (Solanum tuberosum) – all green parts.
• Privet species (Ligustrum species).
• Queen of the night (Cestrum nocturnum) – mainly northern
North Island.
• Spindle tree and Japanses spindle tree (Euonymus
europaeus and E. japonicus) – latter mainly fruiting in the
North Island.
• Tutu (Coriaria species).
• Yew (Taxus baccata) – although nearly all parts of both
sexes are poisonous, only the berry of the female tree, with
its poisonous seed is likely to be eaten.
• Cotoneasters (Cotoneaster species)
External poisons (harmful if touched)
• Stinging nettles (Urtia species).
• Wax tree or Japanese wax tree (Rhus succedanea) –
mainly North Island and northern South Island.
Sandra Batley
www.flourishgardens.co.nz