Watering the Garden

I've volunteered to water the garden at Dahin's school every other week and the kids have become huge fans of the gardening sessions. For the most part, this is due to Mr. Lans, the science and gardening teacher (who, incidentally, took these photos). Dahin has gardening class with him every Thursday (did I mention I LOVE this school?) and the second and third grade kids planted this pollinator garden to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Parents, in March, helped to dig up the ground and build the plant boxes. Dahin had last Friday off and helped with the composting and watering.

Usually, Mr. Lans arranges to be at the school when it's my turn to water the plants. He gives the boys jobs like finding worms and snails in the compost bin or spreading compost on the plants. Last Friday, the boys and Dahin watered the pollinator garden and helped plant a couple of new plants. Dahin, who has become a master aphid-finder, has the special job of spotting potential pests. She helped assist Mr. Lans once in gardening class when the lesson was about garden pests because of her knack for spotting the little buggers.

The gardening sessions have proven to be great for Oliver, who loves messing with water, and Ronan, who loves flowers. When we go to Target, Ronan has to stop and smell every flower in the garden section. I have to tell him to slow down or else he'll hyperventilate. Oliver loses patience with the 'smelling sessions,' but still loves playing with the compost, bugs, and garden tools at the school. The kids look forward to seeing Mr. Lans. Oliver summed it up when he said, "I LOVE Middah [Mister] Lans."