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Simple garden experiments to teach kids about pollinators, soil, and more.
Raising the next generation of environmental stewards starts with getting kids outside. At Reynolda Gardens in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, kids dig up potatoes, crumble soil, and explore trails on the estate grounds to learn about the Earth in a hands-on way. Jon Roethling, director of the gardens, shares four ways you can transform your at-home garden into a living classroom.
1. Test a “shade plant” in the sun
Roethling encourages gardeners to experiment more freely than they might think they should.
“Some things that you think of as just a shade plant,” he says, “maybe try it in the sun. It might surprise you.”
Try planting the same variety in two different locations and observe differences in growth, blooms, and pollinator activity over several weeks.
2. Watch which flowers pollinators actually prefer
Rather than assuming what pollinators prefer, Roethling encourages people to observe what insects are naturally drawn toward.
Plant a few related flowers — such as a native species and a cultivated variety — and spend time watching which blooms attract the most bees or butterflies.
“Pay attention,” Roethling says. “The big thing is just to take the time to be present in the garden. … Have a glass of iced tea, and just watch.”
3. Leave one “annual” in the ground over winter
At Reynolda, horticulturists sometimes leave tropical plants in the soil longer than expected, just to see what survives.
Even if a plant is labeled an annual in your region, experiment by leaving one in place and monitoring whether it returns in spring.
“It’s always fun for me every year going, ‘Look at that. It’s coming back — I didn’t expect that,’” Roethling says.
4. Dig into soil decomposition
This one is inspired by Reynolda’s woodland trail lessons. Children can observe decomposition firsthand by crumbling fallen leaves or rotting wood and watching organic matter slowly transform into soil over time.
Read more about how Reynolda Gardens helps their community grow.
