Getting your kids outdoors to enjoy nature is a goal worth pursuing, but smartphones, video games, and social media have made it far more challenging in recent years. We celebrated Earth Day on April 22, and a nature walk is a great way to keep the appreciation for nature going. Planning games, creative projects, and other challenges to engage them during your hike can get kids involved from the start. Choose a trail that isn’t too difficult, and allow your children to wander and explore. If your children have a creative flair, encourage them to collect dried leaves, pieces of bark, seed pods, sticks, and other items to use in a collage. For adventurous kids, you can draft an age-appropriate list for a scavenger hunt to keep them from growing bored on the walk. You can include different insects native to your area, specific colors of leaves, and types of flowers, and you can even have them keep an ear out for different bird calls. Challenge your kids to make a list of all the plants or animals they can identify while they walk. Apps like Leafsnap help you identify plants using photos of their leaves or other parts. Additionally, the Arbor Day Foundation offers an online step-by-step guide at ArborDay.org for identifying a tree by its leaves. Keep the learning going by having your kids record their distance based on trail signs or a map app on their phones and calculate their average speed. You could also invite your youngsters to become cartographers, tracing the trail and surroundings on paper, including landmarks, rivers, and lakes. Older kids can add topographical information using their phones or an altitude app such as Altimeter or My Altitude. Hiking is a fantastic activity to help your kids appreciate the outdoors rather than their phone screens, but being in nature takes energy. Remember to pack snacks and a water bottle before you leave, or pack a favorite picnic meal to savor the rewards of exploring the outdoors! HELP YOUR KIDS FALL IN LOVE WITH HIKING Step by Step
Imagine stepping into your backyard and feeling like you’ve just entered a world-class garden where every stone, plant, and pathway brings tranquility and beauty into your day. From the serene simplicity of Zen gardens to the grand floral displays of European estates, famous garden styles from around the globe can inspire your home oasis. Whether you want a peaceful retreat with raked gravel and bonsai or a colorful paradise, you don’t need a plane ticket to experience the garden grandeur. You just need a little creativity and a good pair of gardening gloves. BRING WORLD-CLASS GARDEN INSPIRATION HOME No Passport Required ZEN GARDENS Zen gardens are all about finding peace, serenity, and balance. This popular minimalist style features rock or gravel, sparse green plants, and earthy elements like stone statues. To bring some zen into your outdoor space, lay down some finely crushed gravel that you can rake into patterns like wavy lines that imitate a relaxing stream. These gardens are perfect for meditation, so add a nice stone bench where you can enjoy a quiet moment. Illuminate the area with gentle lanterns and incorporate traditional plants like bamboo, bonsai, and ferns. COTTAGE GARDENS If you want to feel transported to the English countryside, you can take some style cues from traditional cottage gardens. Known for their free- flowing arrangements of flowers and edible plants, these gardens create a burst of color and fragrance to your home. Plant rose bushes, sprawling lavender, and tasty pears or apples that spill over quaint pathways of pavers. You want it to look unplanned, so avoid too much uniformity. You can mimic the cottage vibe by including trellises, fences, and arches in the space. SPANISH GARDENS With their rich history and Mediterranean charm, Spanish gardens blend lush greenery, terracotta tones, and timeless architectural elements to create an inviting, sun-drenched retreat. Think of plants that combine the desert and the sea, like cactus and colorful bougainvilleas. You can play with pastels and natural touches like clay pavers and pots. This style is perfect for incorporating subtle water features or a warm brick fireplace or chiminea. No matter which garden style speaks to you, Anthony’s Lawn Care can help bring your dream yard to life. Contact us today, and let’s turn your outdoor space into something extraordinary.
2
AnthonysLawnCare.com • AnthonysTreeRemoval.com • 812-345-5694
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator