Our Sand and Water Table Garden

We had a sand and water table on our patio that we were ready to toss. The kids rarely remembered to put the lids on when they were done playing and the eucalyptus trees wreaked havoc with leaves and sap. Our beautiful sand often turned to an ugly mess and so we thought it was time to retire our good friend.

But we were struck with an Aha! moment and decided to go a different route. We filled it with soil and seeds and plants and turned it into a garden for our kids to play in and observe. Originally the garden had tomato plants, strawberries, carrots and radishes, but we didn't have much luck with the carrots. They didn't have enough room to grow. The radishes did well but the kids didn't like the way they tasted. The strawberries didn't stand a chance against the baby opossum that stopped by to nibble them every night. But the tomatoes are going strong and we've since added a few flowers and another old strawberry plant (just in case the opossum gets hungry).

The kids enjoy helping water the plants and tend to the garden and my daughter loves the tomatoes. Do you have a garden planted in something out of the ordinary? Tell us what you're growing and share your pictures with us!

A Weekend Hike at Oak Canyon Nature Center

We decided to spend our Sunday morning exploring the great outdoors (one of my favorite things to do). Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim is the perfect spot for hiking with the kids. We visited quite a while ago, but with two little ones and a double jogger to push, our options were limited to the Main Road, which offers a wide packed dirt trail to follow alongside the meandering stream heading uphill, so you still get a bit of a workout and a super enjoyable experience.

This time, we were free to travel several of the other trails the area has to offer as both of our little ones are now sure-footed and eager to explore. We didn't hold back. We walked the Tranquility Trail up to the scenic outlook, caught the Main Road to Bluebird Lane, hitched back on the Bluebird Loop, connected to the Quail Trail and Roadrunner Ridge, passed through the Heritage Trail to see the Butterfly Garden, and hooked up with the Stream Trail to visit the Oldest Oak Tree. We also stopped by the Caves Formed By Erosion and the small Old Time Mining Display.

Most of the trails are shady and pleasant, as you stroll through oak woodlands and enjoy the peaceful trickle of the nearby stream. Bluebird Lane has some shade, but Roadrunner Ridge runs along the top of the canyon and gets full sun. Also, Roadrunner Ridge has steep drop-offs alongside the trail so keep your kids close and hold hands if they're little.

The nice thing about this hike was my son's involvement. Generally, he's not much of a hiker, unless he has something to keep him interested. He loves maps, and the trail guide available at the Nature Center has an image of the trails with a legend and identifiable landmarks. He loved navigating the trails, leading us from one landmark to the next, and helping determine which way to go at the trail intersections. I need to get this boy a compass.

In the end, we were able to hike two and a half miles of trails with a 5-year old and a 2-year old. I had to carry my little girl for a bit, but she's such a trooper and loves to run, so she had plenty of opportunities for that here.

The Interpretive Center is a great place to stop in before and after your hike. There's a small library with children's books, several terrariums with Western Toads, snakes, and bearded dragons, and a few things to explore like animal pelts, horns, and a small box with a mini dinosaur skeleton to excavate. Don't miss the viewing window along the far wall - it looks out at an area that has a small stream, bird feeders, and squirrel feeders. We saw tons of squirrels and birds stopping for water and a bite to eat, and there are binoculars available for getting a closer look.

And if you're an information-nut like me, the area near the front desk has lots of reference books to look at.

If you haven't been, I definitely recommend a trip to Oak Canyon Nature Center. If you have been, you should probably go again. This place rocks.

Oh, restrooms - the brick building near the parking lot is fine, but if you go when the Interpretive Center is open there are a few there, too and they are a bit more comfortable.

For information call 714-998-8380

Shipley Nature Center Begins New Children's Program

One of my favorite places to take my kiddos to explore is Shipley Nature Center in Huntington Beach. The 18-acre center features trails that wander through California native habitat. The center displays eight habitats here including an oak woodlands habitat, meadow habitat, redwood grove habitat, Blackbird pond habitat, coastal sage scrub, riparian woodland habitat, Torrey Pine habitat, and Southern Oak Woodland Habitat. You'll find a special area that provides food and shelter for Monarch butterflies, a replica of a Native American reed hut, and an observation platform to look out over Blackbird pond.

 

Shipley also has a great interpretive center. Head in to the building and make your way to the back room. They have puzzles, puppets and other fun things for the kids to play with before or after your walk.

I'm super excited because Shipley is now offering a children's program on Wednesday mornings at 11:00. They'll be doing story time, a craft, and of course you'll have access to a nature walk. The cost is $3 per adult.

 

 

For more information check out their website at http://shipleynature.org/. Have fun exploring!

Orange County Coastkeeper Gardens

Located behind Santiago Canyon College near Jamboree and Santiago Canyon Road is a fantastic little place called the Coastkeeper Gardens. Opened in the late Spring of 2013, the demonstration garden displays a selection of vignettes featuring native, drought tolerant plants and irrigation applications. The Coastkeeper Garden was developed with the hope that visitors will become educated about ways to landscape their own homes with the intent to preserve the native plant species and wildlife of Orange County, reduce urban runoff, and conserve water with drought-tolerant plants.

In addition to the beautifully displayed vignettes, there is a natural playground area for kids. You'll find archways with treestump paths, (currently dry) river beds, bridges, a tube that tunnels through the hillside, a "mountain climbing" area with large rocks to navigate through, old fallen tree trunks to climb and so much more. When we visited we had the place to ourselves, and both my 2-year old girl and 5-year old boy got sweaty and dirty exploring all the nooks and crannies of this adventure-inspiring environment. There is so much fun to be had in nature and the Coastkeeper Gardens do a fantastic job of proving that. Every neighborhood should have a location like this!

Some of the children's play area is rocky and rough, but there is a packed-dirt pedestrian path that is easily walkable, and stroller and wheelchair accessible. There was one port-a-potty near the greenhouse, but no other restrooms were available. If you live in the Orange County area this is a great location to take advantage of. Parking and entry is free but there is a donation box on the shed near the entrance for visitors - please make a contribution to help keep this fantastic park open to the public.

The Coastkeeper Garden is open Wednesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The entrance is a small driveway near the corner of Jamboree and Santiago Canyon Road. The driveway is under construction and is marked by a banner on the fence pointing to the garden. I did not find any parking available on the college campus that conveniently accesses the garden.

The Coastkeeper Garden is in need of volunteers so please contact them if you are interested!

For more information, visit their website or call 714-850-1965.

Fullerton Arboretum

When I took the kids to the Fullerton Arboretum, I didn't go with soaring expectations. I went because it looked spacious and I wanted to explore a new nature center-type location. So when I was greeted with a gorgeous waterfall that pooled into a stream that swept quickly through a shady Woodlands Collection that included buckeye, cedar, juniper, pine, bamboo and countless other specimens, I was ecstatic. You can only imagine my excitement when I found the redwoods. A perfect bench sat quietly overlooking the stream as it rushed over shiny pebbles. The kids played stream-side on the banks and tried to pick the seashells out of the packed mud.

The parking lot was nearly full when we arrived, but there was rarely another group within speaking distance. Even with the occasional passerby, it felt like we had the place to ourselves. I noticed a few other groups with children lingering by the pond and the lake watching the ducks, turtles, tadpoles and fish - someone asked about feeding the ducks but signs are clearly posted here that feeding the wildlife is not allowed. We made our own lakeside stop and the ducks and turtles quickly approached. I'm sure they were hoping for a treat but they were not aggressive with us and seemed to be content just hanging out with the kids.

In addition to the Woodlands Collection you can explore the Desert Collection, the Mediterranean Collection and the gardens. You'll find a beautiful arbor draped with wisteria, a community garden area, a rare fruit garden and a children's garden complete with a hollow tree stump replica for play, a giant watering can and shovel, and my personal favorite, the gourd arbor. I've never seen anything quite like it and I must say, I felt like a kid again walking through that magical hall of gourds.

Fullerton Arboretum is definitely worth a trip. Parking and admission are free but there is a donation station at the entrance that suggests $3 per person. Please consider the suggested donation so this amazing place can keep its doors open to the public. Also, the Arboretum offers classes for adults and children like Yoga in the Garden, Thursdays in the Kitchen, and Arts in the Garden. Visit the Classes and Programs section and the Calendar of Events for more information.

If you go: Take plenty of water and wear sunblock. There's plenty of shade, but lots of sunny, open space as well. Pack a lunch or a substantial snack supply. There's a lot to explore here so you may want to stay a while. Almost all trails are dirt and stroller accessible. There are clean restrooms at the nature center, but there are no changing tables, so bring a blanket for changes on the grass. Please dispose of trash properly so others can enjoy this beautiful location.

Fullerton Arboretum is open daily from 8:00 to 4:30.