Back to school

Back to school

If you are like me, you get excited every September. My head is always bursting with ideas for new activities and projects.

For older children, September represents going back to school. Oh! The how the smell of new books brings back memories! Each year, I look forward to purchasing school supplies as much as my children do.

For younger children, September can mean the start of daycare or a new daycare group with new friends to get to know and love. It's a new start, the beginning of a new year. Slowly but surely, our daily routine sets in as the days go by.

I am happy to be part of the educatall team and share my passion for gardening and nature with you again this year.

Here are a few things you can do outdoors in September:

• Cut dried flowers from your perennials.
• Begin planting spring bulbs (tulips, hyacinths, daffodils).
• Plant supports for perennials that have grown to be very heavy so the plants don't collapse.
• Generously water coniferous trees. They must store water to be able to support the cold winter months.
• Prune hedges, except those that flower in spring. If you choose to cut these hedges, they may not flower the following spring.
• Continue to control insects.
• Reduce the frequency at which you mow and water your lawn.
• Plant grass seeds where necessary.

Source: Fleurs, plantes et jardins magazine, Sept. 2006

The perfect outing for September:
Visit an apple orchard with your group. Personally, I enjoy visiting Le Verger Cassidy located in Franklin, Quebec, in the Suroit region. A wagon ride takes you to the orchard and children can enjoy horseback rides, feed small animals, pick apples, play in the sandbox and at the playground, and taste yummy apple muffins.

I especially enjoy the personalized welcome the orchard owners, a Swedish couple who moved to Quebec a few years ago, offer children. Visiting this orchard represents a wonderful outing that children remember from one year to the next.

For more information, visit: http://www.vergerscassidy.com/en/accueil.htm.

Gardening activities for September:
It's harvest time! Observe a variety of vegetables with the children in your group. Slice and dice them to discover what they look like on the inside. If you do not have a garden of your own, visit your local grocery store or vegetable stand. Have each child pick a vegetable and serve them all for lunch.

Make the most of the month of September!

Claudine Richard
Early childhood educator

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