garden flowers Archives

Posted on May 24, 2019 by Barb — Leave a comment

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Garden Flowers #10 Sunflower Study and Art Too!

“All this flower has to do is to hold its banner aloft as a sign to the world, especially the insect world, that here is to be found pollen in plenty, and nectar for the probing.”

Handbook of Nature Study, page 576

Growing and then studying your own sunflowers is a great way to learn the growing cycle of a garden flower…from planting seed to harvesting seeds.

Last week, the challenge was to plant some sunflowers. This week our challenge is to make some observations once your sunflowers are blooming. If you have access to sunflowers now, either in your own garden or from a farmers market, take the opportunity to use the lesson’s suggestions to go deeper into a composite flower study.

Read the Handbook of Nature Study pages on sunflowers (pages 574-578). I can’t think of a better way to study sunflowers than to follow Anna Comstock’s lesson in this section of her book. Read the narrative and then go over the observation suggestions.

If you would like to see our family’s sunflower nature study entries, you can read it here: Outdoor Hour Challenge #16 and Outdoor Hour Challenge #29

Don’t miss seeing our images and nature journal pages!

If you have access to the Garden ebook, make sure to pull out the sunflower art activity using a painting by Van Gogh.

With this challenge, we’ll be finishing our official work in the Garden Flower and Plants ebook. If you’ve been working in this book along with us for the past eight weeks, you’ll want to make sure to check if there are any nature journal pages you need to add to or finish up. See page 37 in the ebook for a list of wrap-up activities. Of course, you can continue working on your garden flower challenges and notebook pages as long as you have an interest.

If you want to join us for the summer series of nature study challenges, we’re going to be starting with the Summer Nature Study Continues ebook on May 31, 2019. If you have an Ultimate or Journey level Membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study, you have access to this ebook and the detailed plan for the summer in your account.

If you would like to purchase a membership so you have all of the challenges at your fingertips and the custom notebooking pages too, click over to read all the details and download a sample: Summer Nature Study Continues ebook sample.

Use this discount code to receive $5 off your Ultimate Membership:

SUMMER5

Posted on May 17, 2019 by Barb — 2 Comments

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Garden Flowers #9 Sunflower Seeds and Planting

“The sunflower is not a single flower, but is a large number of flowers living together; and each little flower, or floret, as it is called, has its own work to do.”

Handbook of Nature Study, page 576

Growing sunflowers is one of the most satisfying long term nature study projects your family can do together. After examining the seeds and then sowing them in the dirt, you’ll be anxious for them to sprout and bloom! Put your children in charge of keeping them watered and then when they bloom they’ll have seen how from a single seed you get a beautiful garden flower.

Make sure to click the link below to the original challenge to find the pages in the Handbook of Nature Study to read with your children. Learn all about the sunflower and other composite flowers in this nature study lesson.

Link to the Archive Outdoor Hour Challenge –

Focus on Garden Flowers #9 Sunflowers

If you’d like to see one of our family’s sunflower nature study entries, you can read it here: Outdoor Hour Challenge #29

Don’t miss seeing our images and nature journal pages!

We’re winding down our work in the Garden Flower and Plants ebook. If you’ve been working in this book along with us for the past eight weeks, you’ll want to check if there are any nature journal pages you need to add to or finish up. We’ll be moving on in two week to the next ebook on our yearly plan.

If you want to join us for the summer series of nature study challenges, we’re going to be starting with the Nature Study Continues – Summer Sizzle ebook on May 31, 2019.

If you have an Ultimate Membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study, you have access to this ebook and the detailed plan for the summer in your account.

If you’d like to purchase a membership so you have all of the challenges at your fingertips and the custom notebooking pages too, click over to read all the details and download a sample: More Nature Study – Summer Sizzle Sample.

Get $5 off an Ultimate Membership if you use the discount code NATURE5.

Posted on May 10, 2019 by Barb — Leave a comment

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Garden Flowers #8 Seeds and Weeds

“Why do we call a plant a weed? Is a weed a weed wherever it grows? How did this weed plant itself where I find it growing? Of what advantage is this weed?”

Handbook of Nature Study, page 513

When Anna Botsford Comstock uses the term “weed”, she many times means what we would commonly call a “wildflower”. If you look in the Table of Contents in the Handbook of Nature Study, you will see a long list of “weeds” that are subjects of complete lessons in this nature study volume.

From my personal experience, I have this conversation every spring with my husband over whether a dandelion is a weed or a wildflower. He has given me the gift of dandelions in our yard, even though he really wants to weed them out. I love their happy color and have observed many an insect benefiting from our leaving a few dandelions at the edges of our yard. (Read about my “wild side” here: Wild Side #1
and Wild Side #2)

This week click over to read the original challenge from the Garden ebook and then pick a weed to observe, looking carefully for its seeds. This activity can be done periodically as the seeds develop during the summer season. Make it a weed and seed hunt!

Link to the Archive Outdoor Hour Challenge –

Focus on Garden Flowers #8 Seeds and Weeds

We’re continuing to work through the Garden Flower and Plants ebook over the next few weeks. If you own this ebook or have access to it in your Ultimate Naturalist Library, you’ll want to get it out and read the first few pages that outline how the ten week series of garden challenges work together and can be done in any order that makes sense to your family. The ebook has planning pages as you choose, observe, and then learn more about each garden flower you study.

You may wish to look at the June 2013 Newsletter if you have a membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study.

There’s a lot of great information on wildflowers in this post that I wrote last year. Click over to find helpful hints for your seeds and weeds study:

Wildflowers to Love.

Posted on May 3, 2019 by Barb — Leave a comment

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Garden Flowers #7 Seed Germination

“To watch the little plant develop, to study its seed leaves and what becomes of them, to know that they give the plant its first food and to know how a young plant looks and acts, are all items of legitimate interest in the study of the life of a plant…”

Handbook of Nature Study, page 458

It’s spring and a favorite garden related nature study lesson is to be found while germinating seeds. This is an activity that children of all ages can do with help. I remember doing this with my boys when they were preschoolers and they were so proud when their seeds grew and then eventually bloomed. Don’t think this is something too advanced for your family.

Take time to make daily observations! The progress can be a perfect topic for a nature journal page too.

Keep it simple and have fun! Your children will gain so much firsthand knowledge of plants and seeds by completing this Outdoor Hour Challenge. Click the link below to get started!

Link to the Archive Outdoor Hour Challenge –

Focus on Garden Flowers #7 Seed Germination

If you’re a member here on the Handbook of Nature Study, there are printables in the library for making seed comparisons that would be a perfect companion activity to this Outdoor Hour Challenge.

Posted on May 1, 2019 by Barb — Leave a comment

New Printable for Members- Garden Set #2 of Notebook Pages

Now available in the Ultimate and Journey level memberships:

Garden Notebooking Pages – Set #2

(See the end of this post for more information on how you can become a member.)

Garden Notebooking Pages Set #2: This set of notebooking pages for your nature journal will help you study the following topics: cucumbers, kale, cherries, gourds, and squash.

There are 5 notebooking pages in this set. These pages are a great supplement to the Garden Flowers and Plants ebook that we are currently working through with the Outdoor Hour Challenge.

Note: If you have any subjects you would like me to create nature notebook pages for, please let me know in a comment here on the blog or in an email: harmonyfinearts@yahoo.com

Print a complete list of printables available in the Ultimate and Journey level memberships by clicking the button above.

Use the discount code NATURE5 for $5 off an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership!

Posted on April 26, 2019 by Barb — Leave a comment

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Garden Flowers #6 Observing Pollen

We’re going on a pollen hunt this week! This Outdoor Hour Challenge you can complete in your own garden or on a hike with wildflowers.

Remember to take a magnifying lens and some Q-tips with you during your outdoor time.

Link to the Archive Outdoor Hour Challenge –

Focus on Garden Flowers #6 Observing Pollen

Don’t forget to look for any insects on your flowers collecting pollen.

Posted on April 12, 2019 by Barb — Leave a comment

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Garden Flowers #4 How to Draw Flowers

Don’t panic! I know that many of us have a fear of drawing and the idea of teaching our children to draw makes us anxious! Please give this Outdoor Hour Challenge a try alongside your children. There are plenty of suggestions and a link to a fabulous website of tutorials in the original challenge to make this week’s nature study a complete success.

Keep it simple and if you have any trouble, be patient with yourself. Remember the flower parts that we learned about in the second challenge in this series? Keep those in mind as you look at your flower and try to create a simple sketch in your nature journal.

If you’d like to look for a couple of books at your library, here are two that I really enjoy and they’re appropriate for children of all ages.

I wrote a blog entry a few years ago with a few simple tips to encourage moms who don’t think they can draw. I hope you’ll find some inspiration here if you’re one of those moms:

3 Tips for Nature Journaling When You Think You Can’t Sketch

Link to the Archive Outdoor Hour Challenge –

Focus on Garden Flowers #4 How to Draw Flowers

We’re continuing to work through the Garden Flower and Plants ebook over the next few weeks. If you own this ebook or have access to it in your Ultimate Naturalist Library, you’ll want to get it out and read the first few pages. It outlines how the ten week series of garden challenges work together and can be done in any order that makes sense to your family. The ebook has planning pages as you choose, observe, and then learn more about each garden flower you study.

If you’re looking for a more thorough and inspirational book on nature journaling to use with your family, I highly recommend The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling. You can read my detailed review here on my blog: The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling.

Posted on April 8, 2019 by Barb — Leave a comment

New Printable for Members- Garden Set of Notebook Pages

Now available in the Ultimate and Journey level memberships:

Garden Notebooking Pages – Set #1

(See the end of this post for more information on how you can become a member.)

Garden Notebooking Pages Set #1: This set of notebooking pages for your nature journal will help you study the following topics: morning glories, lilacs, marigolds, caterpillars, and cabbage whites. I love this time of year and hope these pages will inspire you to get out into your garden and look for these common subjects. There are 7 notebooking pages in this set. These pages are a great supplement to the Garden Flowers and Plants ebook that we are currently working through with the Outdoor Hour Challenge.

Note: If you have any subjects you would like me to create nature notebook pages for, please let me know in a comment here on the blog or in an email: harmonyfinearts@yahoo.com

Print a complete list of printables available in the Ultimate and Journey level memberships by clicking the button above.

Use the discount code NATURE5 for $5 off an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership!

Posted on September 15, 2017 by Barb — Leave a comment

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Salvia

Outdoor Hour Challenge

Salvia Flower Study

From the archives and from the Autumn Nature Study Continues ebook

Here in the high desert of Central Oregon, we have a variety of blooming flowers that will grow that provide color, don’t need a lot of water, and are pretty much deer resistant. Salvia is one of those flowers. We have some gorgeous deep blue, almost purple, salvia in our front yard and I often times see the hummingbirds and butterflies flying around its blossoms.

This week we’re going to take a closer look at salvia if it’s available in your garden or area. If not, make sure to read the additional activity ideas at the bottom of the challenge.

Here’s one suggestion:

Additional Activity: Make it a fun flower study activity for your creative child! Put some garden flowers in a vase on a table along with sheets of paper, colored pencils, and magnifying lenses. Invite your child to make a sketch for their nature journal or to put on your nature table.

Would you like to see our family’s salvia study from a few years ago? Here is the link:

Family Salvia Flower Study

Are you looking for a huge set of nature study related notebooking pages to use with your family? I highly recommend this set from NotebookingPages.com. We used them in our family for many years and they are a super easy way to get started with nature journaling.

Use code discount5 to save $5 on any purchase $10 or more from NotebookingPages.com.

If you you use the coupon above to purchase the nature study set, it will bring the cost down to $5.95 for over 293 notebooking pages.

Posted on September 1, 2017 by Barb — 3 Comments

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Asters, Daisies, and Black Eyed Susans

Outdoor Hour Challenge

Asters, Daisies, and Black-Eyed Susans

From the Archives and the More Nature Study – Summer ebook

Here in Central Oregon we have many asters and daisies to observe. This week’s challenge takes us into the Handbook of Nature Study lessons on daisies and asters. Look for these flowers in your garden and yard. If you can’t find any flowers to observe in person during your outdoor time, you can usually find these flowers in the floral department at your local grocery store.

Make this a fun and enjoyable study by following up with some watercolor paintings in your nature journal. I am always inspired to be creative when I take my paints outside and your children may just be the same way.

Make sure to watch the videos in the original challenge to inspire even the most flower study reluctant boys. They might want to look for the patterns and the Fibonacci sequence in the challenge flowers after learning more about this fascinating aspect of nature.

You can also follow up by pressing flowers for your nature journal or allowing time for your children to arrange a beautiful bouquet of flowers for your kitchen table.

Above all, get outside and enjoy your family time!

My current nature themed read is Vitamin N by Richard Louv. I am gleaning so many new and original nature study ideas from his writings. I know many of you have read his other book, Last Child in the Woods, but Vitamin N takes his ideas one step further by providing specific and practical ideas for enjoying nature with your family. I highly recommend this book! Look for it at your public library.

Looking for the autumn plan for the Outdoor Hour Challenge? Here is a link!

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Category: garden flowers

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Garden Flowers #10 Sunflower Study and Art Too!

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Garden Flowers #9 Sunflower Seeds and Planting

If you’d like to see one of our family’s sunflower nature study entries, you can read it here: Outdoor Hour Challenge #29

If you want to join us for the summer series of nature study challenges, we’re going to be starting with the Nature Study Continues – Summer Sizzle ebook on May 31, 2019.

Get $5 off an Ultimate Membership if you use the discount code NATURE5.

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Garden Flowers #8 Seeds and Weeds

You may wish to look at the June 2013 Newsletter if you have a membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study.

Wildflowers to Love.

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Garden Flowers #7 Seed Germination

Link to the Archive Outdoor Hour Challenge –

Focus on Garden Flowers #7 Seed Germination

New Printable for Members- Garden Set #2 of Notebook Pages

Print a complete list of printables available in the Ultimate and Journey level memberships by clicking the button above.

Use the discount code NATURE5 for $5 off an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership!

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Garden Flowers #6 Observing Pollen

Don’t forget to look for any insects on your flowers collecting pollen.

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Garden Flowers #4 How to Draw Flowers

New Printable for Members- Garden Set of Notebook Pages

Print a complete list of printables available in the Ultimate and Journey level memberships by clicking the button above.

Use the discount code NATURE5 for $5 off an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership!

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Salvia

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Asters, Daisies, and Black Eyed Susans

Looking for the autumn plan for the Outdoor Hour Challenge? Here is a link!

Outdoor Hour Challenges for families since 2008!

If you’d like to see one of our family’s sunflower nature study entries, you can read it here: Outdoor Hour Challenge #29

If you want to join us for the summer series of nature study challenges, we’re going to be starting with the Nature Study Continues – Summer Sizzle ebook on May 31, 2019.

Get $5 off an Ultimate Membership if you use the discount code NATURE5.

You may wish to look at the June 2013 Newsletter if you have a membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study.

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Link to the Archive Outdoor Hour Challenge –

Print a complete list of printables available in the Ultimate and Journey level memberships by clicking the button above.

Use the discount code NATURE5 for $5 off an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership!

Don’t forget to look for any insects on your flowers collecting pollen.

Print a complete list of printables available in the Ultimate and Journey level memberships by clicking the button above.

Use the discount code NATURE5 for $5 off an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership!

Looking for the autumn plan for the Outdoor Hour Challenge? Here is a link!

Outdoor Hour Challenges for families since 2008!