Hands-On Sensory Container (aka: The Kid Magnet)

I bought another pot! I even forced myself to branch out from my usual true blues. So it's a gray-green. Hey, can't branch out too far or I might break off.

Why did I need another container, you may ask?

(No doubt, my husband would like to hear the answer, as well!)

 

I wanted a container that my kids could physically interact with, filled with plants that would delight their senses in several ways.

Granted, that's a lot to ask of one container.

On the other hand, when you have a garden, your kids will have sensory experiences outside. Picking herbs for dinner preparation, eating fresh vegetables out of the garden, playing in the grass, smelling flowers, feeling raindrops on their skin, watching the clouds, bugs, animals, and birds: all of these things are sensory experiences.

 

So rather than trying to make this container equal the sum total of all their sensory needs, I just put in a few kid-friendly plants that either:

 a) needed to be in a pot anyway, or

b) I didn't have elsewhere in the garden. 

No stress.

 

Here's what's in it:

Tangerine Sage (Salvia elegans 'Tangerine')

I chose this one by personally sniffing all the herbs for sale at my favorite nursery. Yep, I looked like a loony. As my kids would say, "Pretty much, mmm-hmmm." This passed the sniff test with flying colors! er..aromas.  It really truly smells like tangerines! (Go figure, eh?)

The bright, lipstick red flowers are a bonus.

 

Spearmint 

Did not want this one invading my entire garden, so it was an ideal candidate for the container.

Smells great, can even be munched on (watch for bugs!)

Our breath has never been more fresh!

 

Lamb's ears (stachys byzantina) 

For them to pet, of course.

And rub on their cheeks.

And make blankets for their rock babies.

Whatever they want.

 

purple and white lobelia

Just for color, and also because I had an extra that needed to go in somewhere before it shriveled up and died.

 

That's it.

Nothing fancy.

But I guess that's the point, isn't it?

Fancy would mean hands off.

 

Which leads to my absolute favorite thing about this container: the YES factor.

As in, "Mom, can I touch this leaf?"

"YES!"

"Mom, can I taste this leaf?"

"[Probably] YES!"

"Mom, can I handle every single thing in this pot, and smell it, and pick some to show my friends?"

"YES! Please do. That's what it's there for."

 

* * * * * * * * *

How will you know if your container is a success?

It won't take long, my friends.

 

No, this is not my daughter.

She is a sweet little friend who came over, and was drawn to the lamb's ears.

She was even more tickled when my kids introduced her to the other plants, and had her smell and feel and taste!

Then she asked if she could pick some to take home.

And of course, my answer was yes.