Bugs and Butterflies at Alta Vista Botanical Gardens on March 10
Keeping with the theme of the “Bugs, Birds, and Butterflies Children’s Garden,” the March 10 Kids in the Garden class was an amazing opportunity to learn about and even handle bugs.
Leaving the drizzle outside, the Girl Scouts of Troop 2158 and AVBG family members learned about what makes a bug a bug – actually an insect. They identified body parts and how many legs an insect has, and classified which animals are insects.
Have you watched green fruit beetle larvae scoot along on their backs? They dig down into the soil backwards!
Most kids like handling quick little roly-polys, but they learned that the correct names for them are sowbugs and pillbugs. These are not insects since they have 7 pair of legs, but they are bugs that we find in our compost.
Using recycled materials, pipe cleaners, and markers, the kids then created their own unique bugs: praying mantis, caterpillars, and butterflies. They also took home their choice from a collection of butterflies made from soda bottles.
Braving the diminishing drizzle, the kids explored the Gardens searching for more bugs. Ants were found under rocks, and an earwig scurried away when exposed. Bees were visiting the rosemary.
Under the direction of Farmer Jones, the Girl Scouts did a little community service by clearing away some unwanted volunteer sprouts, earning their Bug Badge after their fun day at the Gardens.
The next event for children at Alta Vista Botanical Gardens will be the April 21 (Saturday) Earth Day Festival from 10 am to 3 pm. This FREE Event will include children’s nature activities, painting Earth Day Rocks!, music, vendors, with BBQ lunch and plants for sale. Details on altavistabotanicalgardens.org
The Kids in the Garden class will be offered next on June 9 from 10 am to noon. Kids can create their own Veggie Critters using vegetables and fruits and their imaginations. Pre-register with Farmer Jones required.
Field trips at the Gardens with Farmer Jones are available – email to set up your date farmerjonesavbg@gmail.com .
