imaginechildhood.com | Blog

... first frost

... houseplant treehouse

With shorter days and cold weather in the future for most of us, it's nice to know there is always some place that is warm and tropical out there. Now it can be in there too.... all you need is a couple of sticks, some rubber bands, a houseplant, and a little imagination!

Any large plant will work, as well as any "building material" that is long and narrow, from pencils to popsicle sticks. You can make a plan, or just start tying sticks to the plant and see what comes out! If the floorboards or roof are slipping around too much you can always employ the age-old fix-all...hot glue. Just make sure you don't glue anything to the actual plant. Whatever your construction style, a houseplant tree-house is a great indoor project for parents and kids that makes any corner into a micro climate of endless imaginative play.







If you'd like to take your tree-house skills to the next level, check out this great book: How to Build Tree-houses, Huts & Forts.

.... urban tracker

Yesterday there was a great story on the local Colorado public radio station KCFR that talked about the importance of everyday observations. The story, The Hermit and the Marmots by Zachary Barr, talks about phenology, (the scientific study of periodic biological phenomena, such as flowering, breeding, and migration, in relation to climatic conditions), and how important the data collected from phenological observations is to the study of climate change.

In order to really understand the effects of these changes scientists need lots of data on pretty much every plant and animal you can think of all the way down to a simple backyard dandelion, which is exactly the place where kids can start to get involved!

By taking regular notes on local plants and animals and entering that data on the National Phenology Network' s website, kids can help scientists learn more about global warming and the effects of climate change!

The key is, it can be something very simple like a backyard dandelion, neighborhood squirrels, or just the tree you pass every day on your way to the playground. But, kids (and parents!) can get involved in something great and truly helpful, and also learn a little about the environment in the process!

Here is a direct link to their introductory program Project BudBurst

Happy tracking!

... nature walk in the city

... barn stories

Deb lives on a farm in Colorado and wrote this beautiful little story about some time she shared with a local hawk she has since named "Phineas". "Phineas"

Phineas was flying high circling above in the sky He swooped down and caught my eye He noticed me I noticed him We were one for a moment in the sky

As I awoke Phineas was there on the railing of the deck And he did not leave And he did not leave

I went down to the barn to feed the horses and the sheep

There was Phineas perched on a post next to the barn And he did not leave And he did not leave

Bunnies were hopping just below looking for hay that I might have dropped

Phineas just looked And he did not leave And he did not leave

Water was drawn form the well right next to Phineas Even with all the activity He did not leave And he did not leave

A friend stopped by to say hello He saw Phineas eye to eye And he did not leave And he did not leave

I peaked out from between the barn doors I just could not believe Phineas was still there

Then he was off to the sky Along with writing stories and taking care of the animals on her farm, Deb also produces beautiful handmade flower fairies and houses utilizing wool from the sheep shown in the pictures above.

You can find her Fairies here.

Photos by imaginechildhood.com LLC, Steve Estvanik, and B Lowe.