Flat Stanley Explores Botanical Gardens

Today was such a beautiful day, so Stanley and I agreed that we must do something outdoors. We decided to adventure around Birmingham, and visit a local attraction that he had never been. He explained that he had never been to Botanical Gardens, but had heard many great things about it. So, off we went! The Birmingham Botanical Gardens is a beautiful place to go if you are looking for something relaxing and free to do in Birmingham.  Stanley and I both learned a few things about the Gardens during our visit. It has over 67 acres filled with 30 different themed gardens, so there was a lot to explore! The rose garden was our favorite, it smelt wonderful! We couldn't see everything in one trip (it was pretty hot), so we plan on going back. We learned that there are volunteer opportunities, and summer camps for kids. Stanley was very interested in the summer camp!

Not only did we learn more about the Gardens, but learned about plant life. Stanley confessed that he forgot how plants grew and got energy to stay alive, so I explained. Plants start as seeds. Seeds come in all shapes and sizes. Then, germination occurs. This is when the plant starts emerging from the seed. Plants need sunlight, water, and nutrients from the soil in order to grow.  Next, the stems and roots then begin to grow. Last, the flower begins to grow. The flower produces seeds, and the life cycle starts over again! We had a wonderful time at the Gardens today, and can't wait to go back and explore even more!

I think visiting the Botanical Gardens is a great way to begin a unit on plant life. Not only can the children learn about how plants grow, they can potentially learn about many types of flowers and trees. The Gardens also has a fun scavenger hunt for children. This would help them discover new areas of the park, and learn facts about different plants. Below is a link to their website, and a cool time lapse video of a sunflower growing. Enjoy!

Birmingham Botanical Gardens Website
Time Lapse of Flower Growing

Smells wonderful!

Can you find Stanley?