A day in the Gardens

Ah! There is nothing better for me than a day with my family in the Botanical Gardens or in the country surrounded by beautiful nature. 


The feelings of peace and serenity I get are totally replenishing.


Had an amazing day today in The Tasmanian Botanical Gardens in Hobart. What an incredible place to spend the day, endless things to learn and enjoy. 


Today the calves explored a veggie garden and a herb garden, touching and smelling everything. We went to the fernery and the Japanese gardens. 
AND we went to a SubAntarctic room housing samples from Macquarie Island, Australia's most southerly island, complete with icy winds and seal grunts!


The calves found a swarm of bees building a nest and sat down to have a picnic in the sunshine and watch. The elder calf had happened to bring along a book on honey bees thinking she may chance upon some in the Gardens, so we all read about bees and the unusual dances they do to communicate. The calves invented their own dances to communicate their different ideas too.


We discovered a heated wall that was used in the original gardens to grow fruit that didn't agree with the colder Tasmanian climate, we saw an original Wardian case and learned about the discovery of greenhouses. We also spent time talking about an amazing traditional style kitchen garden that is being revamped to meet today's eco-friendly ideas.


We rolled around in the grass and yes, even hugged some trees. 


Glorious!


And there was a school group there too, small groups of kids running around at full speed trying to find the answers they needed for their worksheets. One group ran up to the bridge in the Japanese Gardens and shouted back "It's not working" to his classmates in answer to some question or another. I thought to myself as they thundered past, 'well at least they're collaborating', but then another child shouted "Don't give them the answers! Miss ... said it's a competition"! 


As we were leaving, we saw this group of children lining up by that amazing wall I mentioned, the groups were taking turns in reporting back to their friends what they had learned. 
I couldn't help but giggle to myself when I wondered how many times they had to listen to their friends report "It's not working"?....No sweetheart...it isn't.


Honestly? Is this the best we, as educators, can come up with? What a waste for those kids!