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The ultimate garden experiences for kids

April 14, 2015 Leave a Comment

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With the school holidays in full swing, now is the perfect time to stockpile the ideas to keep your kids entertained. Below are some clever tips from Landart Landscapes’ Matt Leacy on how to get your kids out of the house and into the garden.

DIY outdoor play areaย —ย Create the ultimate play area for your kids, by incorporating the following ideas:

Photo credit: Big Game Hunters
Photo credit: Big Game Hunters
  • Make a chalkboard — Aย simple chalkboard can be built from recycled wood and chalkboard paint.
  • Sandpits never fail to captivate children — Iย recommend building these from child friendly recycled pine or treated timber.
  • A cubby house is a clever way to create a space where kids can hang out and retreat from the sun — Iย recommend using natural materials for the exterior of the cubbyhouse, like marine grade plywood and hardwood, these timbers will keep the heat out on sunny days.
  • If nothing else, the most simple and obvious… a grass area. Kids love to run, play and kick a ball.

Give them a green thumbย — Teaching your children how to get involved in the gardening process will make them eager to get outside.

Photo credit: Robert Ashdown
Photo credit: Robert Ashdown
  • Buy your children their very own gardening kit — this is a clever incentive that will leave them eager to participate in gardening activities. Iย recommend choosing plants that are easy to grow, such as tomatoes, sunflowers, lettuces, squashes and beans.
  • Personalise the garden so that it becomes a special place for children — Iย suggest planting a tree for each child born and at each birthday compare the childโ€™s height to the treeโ€™s height. This is an inspiring way to keep kids interested in nature and the way that things grow.
  • Plant a veggie patch — picking from the veggies patch is an enjoyable activity that parents can do with their kids.
  • Incorporate wildlife into your childโ€™s gardening experience by adding a bird bath, with a small pond for fish — children will love to see the different animals in the garden.

Make things together for the garden ––ย Get inventive by creating handmade decorations or tools with your children, made from recyclable materials.

Photo credit: The Style House
Photo credit: The Style House
  • Create plant and herb markers from old paddle pop sticks.
  • Get the kids painting old pot plants with bright and bold colours.
  • Make fun dangling garden decorations from beads, shells and pebbles, hang these with thread or fishing line.
  • Turn coconut shell halves into seedling pots — clean the inside, paint the outside like a face and anything that sprouts will seem like hair. Recycled egg cartons are also great for making seedling pots.
  • Make plants out of vegetable scraps — while they donโ€™t grow edible produce; they make a fun activity for kids, who can watch them sprout week by week.

โ€“ Matt Leacy is a landscape designer and director ofย Landart Landscapes.

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Not many friends in life fall into the unofficial Not many friends in life fall into the unofficial family category and they're a special gift. So ends three weeks with @danisteve81 who left her husband and son in the UK (I'm forever grateful they lent her to me!) to come and cheer me up and help me in the most practical ways after I spent Christmas and New Year in hospital. There were tears and I miss her so much already but how amazing to have had all that time together as adults. Such a rare treat and would never have happened without having been through something so challenging. Silver linings and all that. So many other friends have also been incredibly thoughtful and kind. There aren't many times I'd say this without cringing but I am 100% blessed!

I still cannot believe we have been friends since we were 12! 12! Are you still close with your childhood besties?
The renovation of this 80s beach shack @camillo_ho The renovation of this 80s beach shack @camillo_house is a work of art and while almost every surface was updated, the decision to keep the original slate floor was genius if you ask us. 

Owner @clarehillier__ says: "With its purple, pink, red and brown tones, the slate was the starting point for our interior palette."

Come and check out the before and afters via link in bio now and read the reno story. It's a real beauty.

And you can book it for your next holiday too!

Blair Smith Architecture @kateshanasy

#slatefloor #slatefloors #80shouse #80sbeauty #camillohouse #interiorsblog #interiorsblogger #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #realreno #holidayhousesofinstagram #morningtonpeninsulahomes #morningtonpeninsula #morningtonpeninsulasmallbusiness #blairgowrie #blairgowriebeach #airbnbstyle
Me and my boys ๐Ÿ’— Me and my boys ๐Ÿ’—
Just a couple of dorks who've been friends for thr Just a couple of dorks who've been friends for three decades going out for a child-free dinner ๐Ÿ’“๐Ÿ˜
Excuse me while I die of a cute attack ๐Ÿฅฐ @damia Excuse me while I die of a cute attack ๐Ÿฅฐ @damianfrancis 

This doesn't happen often these days!
Hello friends! Just thought I'd say hi. Two weeks Hello friends! Just thought I'd say hi. Two weeks since leaving hospital and I'm doing much better than I expected to be at this early stage. A long recovery road ahead but making progress in how much I can move my arm and although I drag myself through some days non-stop yawning, others I can go for a little walk or out for lunch before collapsing on the couch! I can now tie my own hair back and put on a real bra which is very exciting ๐Ÿคฃ Having my bestie here to help us with the boys, drive me places and just be brilliant positive company is the best thing I could have asked for not to mention the many Dinner Ladies vouchers from friends! Thanks for all your kind messages, cards, flowers, gifts and offers of help โค๏ธ
I definitely feel like a statistic now but hoping I definitely feel like a statistic now but hoping to raise some awareness off the back of my misfortune (and also very lucky escape).

@newsouthwaleshealth have just put out this warning about a rise in serious bacterial infections. iGAS (invasive group A streptococcus) is what caused my necrotising fasciitis and sepsis.

Apparently there's similar happening in VIC too.

It's extremely rare but very serious nonetheless so please have a read and be aware of symptoms. I've linked to the article from a button via my link in bio.

#interiorsaddict #jenbishop #necrotisingfasciitis #groupastrep #groupastreptococcus #sepsis
While new technologies continue to shape the inter While new technologies continue to shape the interior design scene, one that has been getting a fair bit of traction of late isย marble-look porcelain. A cheaper alternative to natural stone, the latest printed porcelain tile technology makes it difficult to distinguish from the real thing.

Founded by husband and wife duo Anton and Rita Bourtsev, Sydneyโ€™s @kaolintiles has a unique offering in this space with over 100 different marble-look tile designs in small and large formats.

More via link in bio now.

#porcelain #porcelaintile #porcelaintiles #largeformattiles #largeformattile #marblelooktiles #bathroomtrends2023 #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #heartyourhome #realrenovations #goldsink #brasssink #jenbishop #kaolin #kaolintiles #interiorsblog #interiorsblogger
Promise this is the last wretched hospital photo I Promise this is the last wretched hospital photo I'll post and I hope to be home and with my lippie back on by Monday. You know it's serious when I'm lipstick free, right?!

This was about a week ago in intensive care. And although my arm is still bloody sore I'm now on a normal ward and no longer attached to any drips, drains or a catheter. I've come a long way.

This has been the most physical and mental challenge of my life but I'm through the worst. I kept my arm. The doctors saved my life.

I cannot say it enough times. If you're worried about your health, don't hang around. Things can change so quickly. 

A huge thanks to my amazing husband @damianfrancis We've had the hardest year yet and our marriage has never been stronger, even if my rings did get cut off my finger in hospital ๐Ÿ˜œ

As great of a job as he is doing at home with the kids, I cannot wait to get home now. Countdown is on to a new year and a fresh start.

And I can't say enough just how overwhelmingly grateful I am to all the medical professionals involved in my care, from the @healthdirectaus nurse who sent me to Emergency to the exceptional surgeons, doctors, nurses and support staff.

Happy New Year, everyone. Remember you never know what's around the corner and this is not a dress rehearsal!

And huge thank you for all your kindness here. Has been amazing while stuck in bed.

Xxx

For those who missed it, I was unlucky enough to get necrotising fasciitis. You'll have to Google it.
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