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A garden is a magical place where seeds turn into flowers, vegetables, and fruits; it’s a living classroom full of lessons about patience, care, and the cycles of life.
This blog post blossoms with garden quotes perfect for inspiring children to dig into the soil, explore the wonders of plant life, and understand the value of nurturing growth. These quotes are not just about gardening; they’re about life, offering insights and wisdom through the simple act of connecting with the earth.
Let’s cultivate curiosity and love for nature in young hearts with these thoughtful garden quotes.
Table of Contents
Why Teach Kids To Garden
Gardening with kids is not just about planting seeds; it’s about sowing the seeds of knowledge, responsibility, and respect for nature. Here are key reasons to teach kids to garden:
- Educational Value: Gardening teaches children about plant biology, ecology, and the importance of biodiversity in a hands-on way.
- Encourages Healthy Eating: Children who grow their own fruits and vegetables are more likely to have a positive attitude towards eating them.
- Fosters Responsibility: Taking care of a garden helps children learn about responsibility and the satisfaction that comes from nurturing something over time.
- Promotes Environmental Stewardship: Through gardening, children learn about the importance of taking care of the environment, sustainability, and the impact of human activities on the earth.
11 Garden Quotes for Kids
1. “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” – Chinese Proverb
Never too late for good actions.
This proverb emphasizes the importance of taking action towards positive change or improvement at any time. It suggests that while earlier actions might have been ideal, the present moment is always an opportunity to start.
Encourages children to understand the value of action and the importance of contributing positively to the environment and their lives at any age.
Journal Prompt: What is something good you can start doing today?
2. “Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.” – Veronica A. Shoffstall
Self-reliance and personal growth.
This quote inspires taking charge of one’s own happiness and personal development, rather than waiting for others to provide fulfillment or joy.
Teaches the importance of independence, self-care, and finding happiness within oneself.
Journal Prompt: What does “planting your own garden” mean to you?
3. “If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero
The essentials for a fulfilling life.
Cicero suggests that a garden provides nourishment for the body and a library for the mind, together offering a comprehensive foundation for a contented and fulfilled life.
Highlights the importance of nurturing both the mind and body for overall well-being.
Journal Prompt: How do gardens and books help us learn and grow?
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4. “A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust.” – Gertrude Jekyll
Gardens as educators.
This quote appreciates the garden as a source of valuable life lessons, including the importance of patience, diligence, and trust in the processes of growth and nature.
Encourages observing and learning from the natural world, understanding the value of effort and patience.
Journal Prompt: Describe a time you had to wait patiently for something to grow or happen.
5. “Gardening is the art that uses flowers and plants as paint, and the soil and sky as canvas.” – Elizabeth Murray
Gardening as a form of creative expression.
This quote likens gardening to painting, where the natural elements are used creatively to craft beautiful landscapes, emphasizing the artistic and expressive potential of working with nature.
Inspires creativity and appreciation for the aesthetic and design possibilities within nature.
Journal Prompt: What colors of plants and flowers would you use in your garden and why?
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6. “Gardening is learning, learning, learning. That’s the fun of them. You’re always learning.” – Helen Mirren
Continuous discovery in gardening.
This quote celebrates the endless opportunities for learning and discovery within gardening, highlighting it as a journey of constant growth and knowledge.
Encourages curiosity and the joy of lifelong learning, particularly through hands-on experiences with nature.
Journal Prompt: Write about something interesting you learned from a garden or plant.
7. “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” – Lao Tzu
The efficiency of nature’s pace.
Lao Tzu’s words remind us that nature operates on its own timeline, achieving its goals without rush or stress, suggesting a lesson in patience and trust in natural processes.
Teaches the value of patience and that being slow and steady often leads to successful outcomes.
Journal Prompt: How can you apply the lesson of nature’s pace to your own life?
8. “When you teach a child to garden, you show them how to grow their own future.” – Unknown
Empowerment through gardening.
Teaching a child to garden is metaphorically giving them the tools to nurture and take charge of their future, emphasizing self-sufficiency, responsibility, and the care of living things.
Encourages responsibility, foresight, and an understanding of cause and effect, empowering kids to see their actions as seeds for the future.
Journal Prompt: How does taking care of a plant help you learn about taking care of other things?
9. “To plant a garden is to dream of tomorrow.” —Audrey Hepburn
Gardening as hope for the future.
Planting a garden is an act of optimism, signifying hope and planning for future beauty and sustenance. It’s a metaphor for investing in the future and nurturing dreams.
Inspires hope, planning, and positive anticipation for the future, showing how actions today shape tomorrow.
Journal Prompt: Describe a dream garden and what it symbolizes for your future.
10. “A garden is a friend you can visit anytime.” – Unknown
Gardens as dependable companions.
This quote personifies a garden as a friend that offers solace, joy, and company whenever needed, highlighting the garden’s role as a source of comfort and escape.
Teaches the value of finding solace in nature and the reliability of the natural world as a source of peace and happiness.
Journal Prompt: What does it mean to have a “friend” you can visit anytime?
11. “Weeds are nature’s graffiti.” —Janice Maeditere
Appreciating the wildness in nature.
This quote suggests that weeds, often seen as nuisances, are actually nature’s way of expressing itself freely and creatively, similar to graffiti. It encourages a perspective shift to see beauty in the untamed.
Promotes an appreciation for all aspects of nature, understanding that everything has its place and value, and teaches about perspective.
Journal Prompt: What might weeds tell us if they were nature’s graffiti?
Ways to Use These Quotes
- Garden Journaling: Encourage kids to keep a garden journal, writing down their observations, thoughts, and feelings about the garden alongside their favorite quotes.
- Quote Decorations: Create garden markers or decorative stones that feature garden quotes, blending art and gardening to beautify the space and inspire young gardeners.
- Gardening Reflections: After a day of gardening, share a quote and discuss what it means, connecting the day’s activities to broader life lessons about growth and care.
- Storytime in the Garden: Host reading sessions in the garden, starting with a garden quote and reading stories about plants, nature, and gardening, fostering a love for the outdoors.
- Planting with Quotes: Assign each plant or seed a specific quote, discussing how the quote relates to the plant’s growth journey or the care it requires, making gardening a more reflective activity.
- Garden Art Projects: Use garden quotes as inspiration for art projects, such as painting pots or creating garden banners, allowing creativity and gardening to blossom together.
Additional Resources
Books About Garden For Kids
- Early Elementary Children (Ages 3-6)
- Lower Elementary Children (Ages 7-9)
- Upper Elementary Children (Ages 9-11)
Activities About Garden For Kids
- Seed Starting: Match each type of seed with a garden quote that reflects its growth or characteristics, making the planting process educational and inspiring.
- Garden Scavenger Hunt: Create a scavenger hunt based on garden quotes, where each clue leads to a plant, tool, or feature in the garden that relates to the quote.
- Composting Workshop: Teach kids how to compost, relating it back to garden quotes about growth, decay, and the cycle of life, showing the importance of sustainability.
- Garden Yoga: Incorporate yoga in the garden, using garden quotes to set the theme for each session, connecting physical movement with the growth and stillness found in nature.
- Create a Soul Garden: Drawing from Veronica A. Shoffstall’s quote, have kids plant flowers or vegetables that they feel represent themselves or their dreams, creating a “soul garden.”
- Garden Journal: As they learn and grow their gardens, children can keep a journal of their observations, drawings, and what they’ve learned, inspired by Helen Mirren’s quote about gardening being an ongoing learning process.
Resources For Parents & Caregivers
- “Gardening Lab for Kids” by Renata Fossen Brown: A hands-on guide filled with fun, innovative, and educational gardening projects.
- Local Gardening Classes: Information on community centers or botanical gardens offering gardening classes for children, encouraging hands-on learning and a deeper connection with nature.
- Online Gardening Courses for Kids: Curated list of engaging and educational online courses about gardening, plant science, and sustainability, tailored for young learners.
- Gardening Apps and Games: Recommendations for interactive apps and games that teach children
What’s Your Favorite Garden Quote?
In every garden lies the opportunity for discovery, learning, and connection—not just with the earth but with each other. The garden quotes we’ve explored serve as gentle nudges to look closer, dig deeper, and appreciate the simple joys of watching something grow.
They are reminders that, in gardening, we find metaphors for life, teaching our children about the cycles of nature, the importance of nurturing, and the joy of seeing the fruits of our labor.
What is your favorite Garden Quote from the post, or do you have another? Share it by tagging me on Instagram @LittleYellowStarTeaches. I would love to see!
Keep planting seeds!
Bye for now,
Prima from LittleYellowStar
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