Hi to you all!

Our 5 senses and our container gardens are good companions and there are some good mix and match planting ideas that you can do to get a feast going on your balcony and patio.

Plants for Sight or Taste or Frangrance or Touch or Sound can charm and calm even the most stressed body.

And Springtime is a good time to consider any changes - though regardless of the seasons, renewing your spirit via your gardening antics is pleasure enough.

Hope you choose to do as well as enjoy! Please, go and read the latest CG article by scrolling down and following the link to the site

Cheers now...

My two year old grandson likes to stop and touch leaves and flowers. He is learning to smell his fingers after he touches some of the plants. I have lavender and mint growing.

Hi Angie and thanks for stopping by and commenting - what a clever grandson you have, he is young yet he seems to know already that there is much more to be gained from the garden than just the look and colour. I am sure too this interest is being guided by you as well which is even nicer to think about Gran!

There is a large movement here in SA led by MulberryBear which is gardening for Kids where Mulberry and his helpers introduce gardening to anyone who thinks he is a kid, acts like a kid, pretends to be a kid by borrowing a kid or may actually be a kid (usually below around 15 years)

Mulberry teaches all the basics over and over again and is hosted by the various garden centres and nurseries; so attending his workshops are free - all you need to do is buy any extra materials you wish to use.

I know too that one of the nurseries that specialises in Bonsai has children of around 5 and upwards who are learning the basics of this ancient art. I went to one of these and was really touched.

On that particular day they were showing those movies about Mr Miyagi and wash on wash off (Karate Kid series) and when those thugs broke up the bonsai room there was a lot of reaction in the room. Several of the kids were shouting "Stop it!" "Stop it!" and there was a little boy who needed consoling by his Dad. He was in tears, asking "Why Dad? Why?" Such is the power of real time action and movies. These were older children who had fallen in love with Bonsai via Mulberry Bear, had learned enough to learn a lot of other lessons taught too and had seen those scenes in the movie with a shock.

Introducing children to gardening can be a rewarding experience for the entire family and giving them a small piece of garden to tend with full sun, good soil, drainage and a fence to ward off all intruders (even a raise bed is a good idea) goes a long way. Even when they are very young like your Grandson Angie.

Some of the plants I would suggest as starters include geraniums (pelargoniums), marigolds and spider plants. If they are in pots they are easy for little hands and can be planted first off in their pots and just watered. For older 'kids' starter veges or edibles could include spinach (Swiss chard) and Nasturtium (seeds are big). It's a really pleasing, teaching and productive way to spend time together.

Cheers Angie, come back anytime!