It’s planting time!! Finally, we can start our Fairy, Moon, and Rainbow gardens referred to in my previous articles. Before we plant our flowers, we need to start with good dirt and good dirt has earthworms. My great nephews, Max and Eli, look for the wiggly critters in our gardens. Earthworms are fun to watch but more important they improve our garden soil. 
The book, Yucky Worms: Read and Wonder, by Vivian French, illustrated by Jessica Ahlberg, tells the story of a young boy learning all about worms from his grandmother in her garden, even how their “poop” or “cast” helps fertilize plants. I can’t tell you how many funny stories the boys can tell involving poop!
My great nieces, Lindsey and Lauren, will have fun making a fairy garden. The book, Fairy Gardening: Creating Your Own Magical Miniature Garden, by Julie Bawden-Davis and Beverly Turner will get you hooked on a fairy garden hobby that is so popular right now! 
The authors point out one of the key features of fairy gardens is that they should tell a story. This will give me a way to tell Max, Eli, Lindsey, and Lauren about their Grandma Alice (1951-1999). Their Grandma Alice and their Nana were once young girls with a special pet duck, Sally, and Sally can tell a story because everyone knows that animals talk in fairy gardens.
I have found a way to involve the boys in that project by having them help make twig furniture for their cousins, the twins. Pinterest is full of ideas for things to make for fairy gardens, but I recommend this link to create a simple fairy garden in a container. I’ll use a variation of this with the twins: bit.ly/atCG_FairyGarden.
In, July we will be visiting a local bonsai grower. We’ll be sure to get more miniature garden ideas. cg
Nancy loves flower gardening almost as much as she does her great nephews and nieces. Her interest in gardening intensified while living in Holland and was perfected with Master Gardener courses.
