You're probably familiar with fairy gardens and maybe even mermaid gardens, the imaginative, miniature plantscapes filled with cute little houses, ponds, and other Tinker Bell-inspired accessories. They're a lot of fun to create, especially for kids, but some parents recently realized that their little ones (particularly boys) who weren't so into fairies and mermaids were missing out—so they've come up with a clever idea to encourage all kids to love gardening.
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"Dinosaur parks" are the perfect way to get your boys (and tomboys!) involved with growing and caring for plants this summer. Bond by creating one together, then use it to keep 'em occupied while you spend time in your garden this season.
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The teeny garden will require upkeep, thereby giving your kids the chance to learn about plants—plus, watering their garden might be one chore they actually look forward to doing.
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London-based garden designer Simon Orchard created the one pictured above for his 3-year-old, using an upcycled farmhouse sink as a container. He filled it with hebe plants, shield fern, Irish moss, and even a tiny pond, according to his blog. "It's the kind of garden project that everyone in the household can get involved in," Simon wrote on Houzz. "And it just goes to show that you don't have to spend a fortune to create entertainment in the garden for little people."
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There's lot of other parents who are fans of dino parks, too. "My two boys would love this—come to think of it, I think my two girls could too!" one commenter wrote. "What a great idea to get the younger kids out in the garden and enjoying nature—honestly, I want to play with it!" wrote another.
Blogger Karen Raye of Kitchen Treaty made one for her child and packed it with herbs, veggies, and other plants. She used an old whiskey barrel as the container and filled it with fennel, red leaf lettuce, kale, thyme, and lavender.
The only rule is that there are no rules! Once you choose a planter—try a repurposed tire, barrel, or sink—you can fill it with just about anything you already have at home. You can also customize the garden to your child's interests by letting their favorite toys inspire the landscape. For instance, if your kiddo love trucks, craft a teeny construction site; if he love cars, build a mini rock garden with a racetrack.
Get the full dino park tutorial at Simon Orchard Garden Design, and check out these 12 enchanting DIY fairy gardens for more ideas.
(h/t Houzz)
