It was a garden that brought young Mary Lennox from her lonely shell in the classic children's story "The Secret Garden,'' written by Frances Hodgson Burnett in 1909.
The story, which has been made and remade into feature films over the years, has had such an impact on gardeners that nearly every serious gardener has created their own version of a secret place, hidden away from the main garden and only revealed to a select few.
But gardening isn't limited to those adults who find the hobby both fascinating and therapeutic. Studies have shown that children who are exposed to gardening at a young age do better in school and in social situations.
Four years ago, the Tribune Chronicle brought children into the garden with its summer-long series on gardening with kids. Trumbull County Master Gardeners continue to take the Junior Master Gardener program into local schools with its hands-on curriculum, endorsed by The Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener program.
Late each summer, children from area schools travel to the Research and Developmental Gardens at the Agricultural Center in Cortland to tour the gardens with their teachers and Trumbull County Master Gardeners. During the Agricultural Center's Summer Sizzle, Master Gardeners get children involved with its annual scarecrow building contest, keeping scarecrows on display through Halloween.
The Research and Educational garden (R.E.D. garden) at the Agricultural Center, located at 520 W. Main St., Cortland, was created as a place for the public to tour, learn and enjoy. Spanning more than a quarter of an acre, the garden represents the work of Master Gardeners trained through the research of The Ohio State University Extension program. In addition to the R.E.D. garden is the phenology garden, maintained by Trumbull County Master Gardeners in conjuction with scientists and exact replicas of additional phenology gardens to monitor relationships between plants and insects throughout Ohio.
The gardens are ever changing and will continue to expand with the creation of a nearly three-quarter acre children's garden currently under the design of the Master Gardener class of 2007.
Like the R.E.D. garden, the children's garden will be open to the public and will be available to not only teach children about gardening, but to offer a serene environment for the learning process to take place.
Plans for the garden include seven theme gardens that will meander through both open spaces and woodland. Children will be welcomed into the entrance to the garden by mascots representing a caterpillar to lead the way to low growing plants and a butterfly to lead the way to taller exhibits.
In the near future, children will be asked to name the garden mascots in an upcoming contest sponsored by the Trumbull County Master Gardener class of 2007. Representations of the two mascots will lead the way throughout the theme gardens, which include a kitchen garden, butterfly garden, fairy garden, barnyard garden, and wildlife and interactive areas. Structures throughout the garden will encourage curiosity and interest.
An old adage states, "Gardens grow children," and there is no better way for parents and children to bond than by gardening together.
Gardening builds confidence and stimulates both interest and curiosity, not to mention teaching patience as children learn to wait for the first tiny shoots of a plant after they have pushed the seeds into the earth with their own fingers. Gardening with your child helps to open the lines of communication as well as giving children and adults the opportunity to reconnect with nature.
When planning a garden with your children, give them their own plot of land that is distinctly their area. Explain the need for sunshine, fertile soil and water. Try to create interesting areas with stepping stones, bamboo tepees, small signs and garden art created from everyday objects, such as painted clay pots, old bed frames or rusted wheelbarrows.
Plant vegetables that your child loves to eat, or those that you can easily encourage your child to try. Often when children grow their own vegetables, they are not as particular about trying them out on their plates. Grow bright colored flowers on long stems they can pick and arrange in vases for the table. Zinnias, marigolds, snapdragons and salvia are just a few to choose. Grow plants that are interesting in other ways as well, including herbs for their scent, or lamb's ears for it's soft, fuzzy leaves. Jewelweed, also called "touch me not" is an interesting plant because the seedpods, when held in a warm hand, will explode, tickling the palms and bringing smiles of delight to young faces.
With the design phase well under way at the Master Gardener children's garden site, clearing the area of brush, shrubs and small trees has begun. Funding for the project has been through the efforts of Trumbull County Master Gardeners with fundraisers held by Trumbull County Master Gardeners and through individual donations.
A garden tool shed with potting bench is being auctioned with proceeds to benefit the children's garden. The winner will be drawn during Summer Sizzle at the Agricultural Center Aug. 9. For information on how you can get tickets to win the shed, or how you can donate to the Trumbull County children's garden, call The Ohio State University Extension Office of Trumbull County at 330-638-6783.