Del took these photos below of scarecrows in the rice fields of Brufut, Gambia.  I thought it was interesting how they look different from those here in the US.  The scarecrows in Gambia are made out of plastic bags.

Del said, "They look really realistic from a distance."

Del wrote, "They were arranged in a group of three – for some reason I assumed that the Gambians would not use scarecrows."

Many thanks to Del for sharing these photos with us!  Be sure to visit Del’s YouTube Channel to watch her videos of Gambia featuring kids songs!

Mama Lisa

We visited a very kid friendly nature preserve today with a lovely garden.  The gardeners there were in the middle of planting a sensory garden, as a nice addition to their main garden.  A sensory garden should have plants that stimulate each of the five senses: smell, taste, sight, sound and touch.  Sensory gardens are wonderful for children to help them learn about the five senses.

Sight is easy in a garden…

So is smell.  They were planting mint…

Taste is pretty easy too.  They were planting blueberry bushes…

The sense of touch is pretty easy too.  You need to have safe plants to touch near the pathway.  Different textured leaves work nicely.  I noticed they were planting some ornamental grasses…

Now sound in a garden I find interesting.  They were planting something called Clethra Hummingbird.  The gardener I spoke to said it makes a crackling noise in the Fall.

Even if you don’t plant a full sensory garden, you can use these ideas in your garden, around your yard or on your balcony if you’re in an apartment, even on a windowsill.  It’s just another way to be creative in your life and think of things another way!

Check out Sensory Garden for Kids for more on building a sensory garden with children and Sensory Gardens which talks about other reasons to create a sensory garden (i.e. for healing, socializing, etc.)

Enjoy your gardening experience with all your senses!

Mama Lisa