Two eyes!

My oldest boy (by five minutes),loves to stop and smell the flowers. He also likes to check out interesting plants. Here he is with a small sample of euphorbia. He thinks it looks like two eyes an I am glad he has come up with a way to identify with this plant, the challenge is to remind him not to pick plants without permission as plants such as euphorbia can sometimes have a milky sap that is an irritant or even poisonous. So while I don't want to discourage his investigations and connections I want I foster a healthy respect of living things. We will do this by continuing to make connections to what he sees: finding other "two eyed" creatures, planting in our own garden, and continuing to learn that we should always ask before picking plants!

Likewise, I should become a better model for working with plants and use gloves as I garden around plants that might be skin irritants. We also can continue to discuss both how plants attract pollinators and also how they protect themselves.

Tree climbing

They say that playgrounds have become to safe. They definitely do not leave open the infinite possibilities that letting kids climb trees allows. Here my boys are exploring new heights in a plum tree. The way that the boys sang, took turns, played peek a boo through the branches made me wonder if someday a tree will be their special place.

Running amidst the skunk cabbage

Today's hike took us to the Mercer Slough where the skunk cabbage is in full bloom. It was wonderful to see lots of classrooms of kids visiting the slough, our tots, as well as the preschool kids all exploring with smiles.

Finding hidden pools

There is such contentment to find a secret pool, to sit on a rock, and to feel the growing independence of exploring your world with a stick. Here the boys are with their neighbor friends at the local arboretum.

Curbs

My three year olds are working on balancing so whenever we find a safe curb to walk along I give plenty of time to practice this skill. This curb is surrounded by northwest native plants. T has just maneuvered around the Oregon grape plant. Although I wish we didn't have so many parking lots, if we have to have them they should all be so beautiful.

Tree planting!

My boys are only three but somehow they have seen
much more tree cutting events than tree planting events. Perhaps it is because even though we have planted trees we have not used such incredible machinery. Today's planting event was great because the of the trucks that parked along the street and in particular the corkscrew drill they used to dig holes. I am hoping that now the boys won't only play tree cutters but also tree planters when they are doing imaginary play with their trucks.

It's beautiful to find new trails

This trail is located right in the city! Volunteers have been meeting the first Saturday of the month to make it a viable place to hike, hauling out the garbage and the blackberry bramble rejuvenating to its native beauty.