{"id":5802,"date":"2010-04-16T09:00:05","date_gmt":"2010-04-16T13:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nybg.org\/wordpress\/?p=5802"},"modified":"2010-04-16T09:08:17","modified_gmt":"2010-04-16T13:08:17","slug":"family-garden-reopens-kids%e2%80%94and-rabbits%e2%80%94are-%e2%80%9choppy%e2%80%9d","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nybg.org\/blogs\/plant-talk\/2010\/04\/learning\/family-garden-reopens-kids%e2%80%94and-rabbits%e2%80%94are-%e2%80%9choppy%e2%80%9d\/","title":{"rendered":"Family Garden Reopens: Kids\u2014and Rabbits\u2014Are \u201cHoppy\u201d!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Children Learn About Plants Through Hands-on Gardening<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\nToby Adams is Manager of the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\"\"<\/a>Clickety clank. Bumpity bumpity bump. Two pairs of ears stand up scanning the Family Garden for the noise. Clickety clank. Bumpity bumpity bump. Two curious, twitching noses aim this way and then that. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that clanking and bumping?\u201d wondered sleepy Darwin, the Family Garden\u2019s newest resident rabbit (at left in photo). <\/p>\n

Newton hopped around his hutch, the Family Garden\u2019s original resident rabbit had heard these noises before. \u201cI think I know what the clinkety clanks and bumpity bumps are,\u201d Newton assured Darwin. \u201cThe Family Garden must be open again!\u201d
\n<\/p>\n

\u201cSo much for peace and quiet\u201d mumbled Darwin.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you know what this means?\u201d Newton advised Darwin, \u201cThe kids take care of the garden. They dig in the soil, plant seeds, water, and clear out the weeds! Soon enough, they\u2019ll be rewarded with baskets full of delicious harvests\u2014crispy leaves of lettuce, crunchy stems of parsley, kohlrabi as big as baseballs, bunches of broccoli, fistfuls of sugar snap peas, and more.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what does this mean for us?\u201d questioned Darwin.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey always harvest more than they need and most certainly share with us\u2014the most carefully cultivated and freshest breakfast, lunch, and dinner a rabbit could ask for!\u201d shouted Newton, excitedly standing on his hind feet, practically pushing open his hutch door. <\/p>\n

Sure enough, pairs of feet bounced past Darwin and Newton, shovels and trowels in hands, clickety clack, and wagons loaded with freshly sifted compost in tow, bumpity bump.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello Newton!\u201d cried one. \u201cHello Darwin!\u201d shouted another, as they hurried past the hutches and on to the garden plots.<\/p>\n

The rabbits are right. The Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden is open again for the season. Children and their families come to learn about plants and the natural world through hands-on gardening Tuesdays through Sundays from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. A changing roster of programs encourage children to explore seasonal themes. April is Wake Up Garden<\/em>!, May is Bulbs Unearthed<\/em>, and June is Herbal Delights<\/em>, Naturally.<\/p>\n

Stop by and get your hands dirty. And say hello to Newton and Darwin!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Children Learn About Plants Through Hands-on Gardening Toby Adams is Manager of the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden. Clickety clank. Bumpity bumpity bump. Two pairs of ears stand up scanning the Family Garden for the noise. Clickety clank. Bumpity bumpity bump. Two curious, twitching noses aim this way and then that. \u201cWhat\u2019s that clanking and… <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n