Audrey Asks Nature's Questions

Audrey definitely inherited her Grandmother's and her Mother's love of nature and curiosity about living things (i.e, future scientist/doctor/nurse/science teacher?!). So, while she stayed with me, we planted some new plants and seeds. She learned about the life cycle of plants and why plants are important and how they grow. Now, as a professional science educator, I can tell you that you NEVER know how a young child will take this information and process it. So, I was curious as to how Audrey would use this information. Was she listening? Was she interested? The answers  to my questions were quickly revealed.

We went to the plant nursery and got some potting soil, some new plants, a planter and seeds. Audrey is checking out the potting soil here -- a bit of qualitative analysis :) Question "What's in potting soil and why is it called potting soil when it's in the "earf" ? Try and explain marketing strategies to a five year old.

We planted some azaleas and a crepe myrtle to take the place of several plants that froze during our 37 year record breaking winter temperatures.  "Why did they freeze?" This was tough...try to explain soil zones to a five year old. However,  the potting soil passed inspection.

Here's the planter where she carefully planted some daisies and other flower seeds. She checked the soil every day to see if it needed water. Not surprisingly, it needed water every day. "Where does the water go?"  Try explaining evaporation to a five year old. I will provide an update in a few weeks - they are doing quite nicely!

Every single day Audrey would go outside and inspect the plants, check to see if they needed water, and what visitors had dropped by. Here she discovered a newly opened flower - she was SO excited as she was the first to find it. I didn't even know this grass-stuff made flowers. "Where's the bee? The bee needs to come, right?"  Try to explain pollination to a five year old.

Close-up of the flower. Today, there are several on this plant. They are unbelievably gorgeous, while the plant itself is a very non-descript grass species. I call these "Audrey's Flowers".

 One of her favorite plants is a butterfly bush I planted. She kept waiting for butterflies. I taught her how they begin as caterpillars and then they go to sleep and turn into butterflies. Guess what she found on the bush the next day???

Those are her little fingers showing her discovery. That caterpillar came for days to feed on the butterfly bush...he was a highlight of her trip:)  I didn't have to explain how caterpillars turn into butterflies. She already knew about that. She is my little butterfly and I love her with all my heart.