Kids in the Garden and Books on Gardening

Book Buzz is a blog produced in collaboration with neighborhood librarians from Houston Public Library, Harris County Public Library and the Bellaire Library.

April is when many of us plant a spring garden. The weather is getting warmer and we usually get enough rain to keep things growing without having to drag out a hose to water every other day. Bringing children into the garden with us makes this a wonderful family activity.

A garden can be as simple as a few pots on the porch. It can be themed to grow the ingredients for a salad or all purple flowers or even everyone’s favorite vegetable. The importance is following the seed to plant to produce and learning how the sun, soil and water make it all happen.

Gardening can also become a gateway for children to try different vegetables. They will get excited about eating something that they planted and watched grow. When planting, choose seeds that will be ready to harvest at different times, including some fast growers so that your young gardener doesn’t get frustrated waiting for results.

Libraries often host gardening programs with Master Gardeners as speakers on a wide variety of topics. Check out your library’s online calendar to see what is offered near you. And don’t forget that your library has a great selection of gardening books for all ages, such as these:

For Preschoolers

Lola Plants a Garden by Anna McQuinn

Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert

Show Me How I Can Grow Things: Gardening Projects for Kids Shown Step by Step by Sally Walton

If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson

For School Aged Children

The Ultimate Guide to Gardening: Grow your own Indoor, Vegetable, Fairy, and Other Great Gardens by Lisa J. Amstutz

Gardening Lab for Kids: 52 Fun Experiments to Learn, Grow, Harvest, Make, Play, and Enjoy Your Garden by Renata Fossen Brown

The Best-ever Step-by-step Kid’s First Gardening Book: Fantastic Gardening Ideas for 5-12 year olds, from Growing Fruit and Vegetables and fun with Flowers to Wildlife Gardening and Craft Projects by Jenny Hendy

All New Square Foot Gardening with Kids: Learn Together: Gardening Basics, Science and Math, Water Conservation, Self-sufficiency, Healthy Eating by Mel Bartholomew

For Adults

Container Theme Gardens: 42 Combinations, Each Using 5 Perfectly Matched Plants by Nancy J. Ondra

Gardening for Birds, Butterflies, and Bees: Everything You Need to Know to Create a Wildlife Habitat in Your Backyard by Editors at Birds and Blooms

Texas Gardening the Natural Way: The Complete Handbook by Howard Garrett