Exploring what makes your garden grow this summer (BPT) - When
school lets out for summer, exchange those flip flops for
gardening shoes. Add a pair of gloves, good sun-block and get
out into the garden.Teach kids why the garden is so green and
plentiful. How does a plant grow? Show and demonstrate what
building blocks a plant needs to grow big and strong - just like
the foundation kids need to grow tall and stay healthy. Here are
some ideas to help get summer fun started. Plant part
identification - Use a flower or tree in the yard to start with
the basics. Work from the ground up, and have children wiggle
their toes deep into the soil to demonstrate how roots stabilize
plants. Have them wave their arms to show the supporting stems
and branches. Sprinkle a bit of water to demonstrate the water
coming into the plant through its roots. Building blocks -
Identifying plants ties in well with showing what plants need to
grow strong. Here are some places to start: * Soil - Most plants
need soil to find enough nutr