Garden tour: the Children’s Garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

[@joanne-et6pm]

Thanks Stephen & Matt very natural & beautiful garden for the kids uncomplicated but fun! Happy gardening 🌸🐝

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Glad you enjoyed it. Regards Stephen

[@robyn-r3g]

I wasn't going to watch this video, but I've discovered I'm just a big kid! Some plants are just really fun to grow. I like growing gourds and sunflowers just for enjoyment. I'll have to go and see this garden sometime. 👍 🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘

[@thehorti-culturalists]

I think everyone should watch this video. We are all children at heart. Regards Stephen

[@pier6976]

As an American I agree about the kid's gardens being too prescribed. I have 6 little (and not so little) ones. My observation with them, enjoying gardens myself, is that the concept of discovery is paramount. Experiments are wonderful...I will never forget my son telling me that he doubted Jack's beanstalk could grow enough in a season to reach the clouds. That lead to us growing the tallest beanstalk we could... it reached the sky (or at least the treetop) before the frost took it. And also worms, bugs of all types...kudos.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

the very reason this children’s garden is so good. Regards Stephen

[@cassella1970]

What a great garden! I will definitely go and see this garden on my next visit to Melbourne.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

You should! Regards Stephen

[@AlisonHTeese-uh8nr]

So pleasant to ramble around ❤the RBG Children’s Garden with Stephen Ryan and Matthew Lucas.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for rambling!

[@halleyorion]

When I was a kid in the US (I live in Australia now), I used to spend lot of time at a place called the Fernbank Science Center in Atlanta. It did not have a lot to offer in botanical terms (with the exception of a 65-acre old-growth forest, which is absolutely stunning and I highly recommend if you ever travel to that part of the world). Their main focus was their observatory and their small science museum of dinosaurs, taxidermy animals, minerals, etc. But they did have a little vegetable garden around the back, where they would do composting classes (aimed at adults, not kids) and had an array of different composting methods on display - and I just LOVED it! Dirt, worms, piles of leaves … these things feel pedestrian to adults, but they can be so engaging for children, up there with strings and boxes.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Kids love doing their own thing and not being directed by adults. Regards Stephen

[@fionachin5015]

I live close to the Botanic Garden and the children’s garden is one of my favourite places to visit. The garden is spectacular. Andrew Laidlaw, you are to be congratulated!!! It is a brilliant space you have created, thank you.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

It really is! Regards Stephen

[@simonbremner2707]

Inspired💚

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching!

[@susanshardlow1881]

How wonderful, I teach preschool children in England and they would love the environment. We do lots of outside learning and it’s so important to learn to love the natural environment. We have willow in the nursery garden so, I’m going to add some bamboo. Many thank for such inspiration.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching! That's a wonderful idea - good luck with your mini garden!

[@connieanderson2281]

I love those bottle trees!

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Aren't they sensational!

[@sylviahardy4568]

That looks like the least patronising childrens garden I've ever seen. My inner child enjoyed that short visit very much 😊 ❤ A longer visit with more discussion and information would be very much appreciated. Thanks guys 😊

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Exactly ! It allows the children to imagine what they want not be told how to think. Regards Stephen

[@jellistarr]

I just caught my 7y old son playing in my compost yesterday 😂, so they made the right choice i guess. He would really enjoy this garden. Wish Oregon wasnt so far away! Look forward to your videos every week ❤

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching and encouraging compost play!

[@brocktoon8]

As an American, I would have enjoyed hearing more about what was so appalling about the American children's gardens. Don't worry so much about what you might think your viewers do or don't want to hear, we want the whole story! I really wish I knew what he was going to say.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

I think Andrew found many of them very prescriptive with little opportunity for self lead discovery and learning.

[@brocktoon8]

@@thehorti-culturalists Awesome, thank you! 😊

[@svetlanasgardenhomeofredwa4342]

Thanks for another wonderful video! I am triggered horticulturally!!

[@thehorti-culturalists]

You and me both! Regards Stephen

[@simonbremner2707]

The Bottle tree is prominent in The Moama Botanical Garden up here on the Border. Its a community driven garden that is developing nicely with a strong Australian theme. There is a childrens playpark attached that is a little bit typical, I hope the committee is aware of this RBG childrens garden. Its only a short trip up here if you are looking for content✌

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching! We are keen to visit more botanic gardens!

[@jucjuc314]

I have been at the botanic gardens a few times, but I always rushed through this part, because it's just too loud for a peace seeking adult, so thank you for doing the hard work and going and discovering the place for souls like me! 😄 Great design ideas invented there, wonderful job done by maintainers too! Greetings, Judit 🤗

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Glad to be of service. Regards Stephen

[@karlsorchidparty2395]

A really beautiful & playfull garden! ❤

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Isn't it! Thanks for watching!

[@adriandunn2301]

This is great. Thanks. What is the creeper covering the shapes, please? Melbourne, Victoria.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Muehlenbeckia complexa or Maidenhair creeper. Regards Stephen

[@katrinkatterman3069]

What a cool place! Thanks for bringing us along! I am interested to know, why the dig at vegetable gardens? (That huge squash looked like a tromboncino.) Also, speaking as an American, I am not offended at the idea that some things here are…less than fabulous. Sometimes you have to know what *not* to do.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Stephen was the host of the national TV gardening program in Australia for a number of years and the producers always wanted him based in the veggie garden - the least exciting part of his garden from his rare plant and horticulture perspective! Matthew

[@katrinkatterman3069]

lol, fair enough! I think it would have been funny to have just then grown unusual edibles instead… fuchsia berries, hosta sprouts, Virginia bluebells, nettles, miners lettuce, Wapato…

[@thehorti-culturalists]

@@katrinkatterman3069 Well he does now!

[@jeanneclark99]

Now I REALLY want to visit Australia! And I agree with brocktoon8: As an American, what is so bad about our children's gardens? What can we do to improve them?

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Apparently many of them incorporate interpretive signage instead of allowing children to make their own stories. Regards Stephen

[@jeanneclark99]

@@thehorti-culturalists Interesting. Thanks!

[@simonbremner2707]

To be fair there is probably many in Australia that miss the mark as well.

[@aliciataylor5386]

There’s an Ian potter children’s garden in Sydney

[@thehorti-culturalists]

I wasn’t aware of that. Thanks. Regards Stephen

[@kerryjean2223]

Is a Boab tree a bottle tree without looking up the botanical spelling?

[@thehorti-culturalists]

baobab or boab is Adansonia and bottle tree is Brachychiton. Hope this helps. Regards Stephen