"Gardening with Ciscoe" in the Children's Garden!

The Magnuson Children's Garden welcomed some very special guests today: Ciscoe Morris and Meeghan Black from the very popular "Gardening with Ciscoe" TV show!

A group of happy and excited children from the Jr. Nature Explorers program greeted Ciscoe and Meeghan, and showed them all their favorite parts of the Children's Garden: the Lookout, the Salmon Survival Path, Grey Whale Garden, Worm Bin, Starfish Garden, and of course the Rolling Lawn!





































And guess what? Ciscoe even rolled down the hill with them!

























There were several other special guests that day too: three of the young garden designers who first helped dream up all the features that make this garden so wonderful, and then helped dig holes for the very first "baby plants" that have now grown big and beautiful. These three knew the garden when it was just a parking lot, and helped transform it into what it is today, along with many others from the community!
Above: Jasper (far left) and Madison (very far right)
Below: Max









As they have grown up over the past 8 years, they have also seen the the legacy of their imagination, creation, and energy benefit all the young children who now find such joy in the garden.




















One of the magical things about the Magnuson Children's Garden is that every interesting and colorful feature that you will see when you visit- from the "high peak" of the Lookout to the "ocean's edge" filled with Tide Pool and Bog Gardens- came from the imagination of dozens of young children. Design charettes in 2002-2003, hosted by a group of volunteer landscape professionals, enabled them to dream big and create a wish list of amazing ideas that the 'grown-ups' then put together into a plan. Subsequent charettes and ongoing input each year from children who love the garden have nurtured its growth, gradually and sustainably. And isn't it the way of all living things to start small and grow bigger?

Most of the children present for today's filming have been to the garden many times for Jr. Nature Explorers Camps or special events. But several were there for the first time, and yet instinctively knew how they could explore it, and were drawn to navigate each and every special place and make it their own. Seeing this happen again and again at each of our events is a reminder of the wisdom of children - both that of the young designers and that of the visitors!

Kids weren't the only ones having fun today, as it looked like all the 'grown-ups' found the whole garden quite enjoyable too!














































The "Gardening with Ciscoe" episode featuring the Magnuson Children's Garden will premiere on the following dates and channels:

Saturday July 31st at 10am on KING-TV, channel 5

Saturday July 31st at 1:30pm on KONG-TV, channel 6

Sunday August 1st at 11:30am on NWCN-TV, channel 2

It will be aired again on:
Saturday August 14th at 10am on KING-TV, channel 5

Saturday August 14th at 1:30pm on KONG-TV, channel 6

Sunday August 15th at 11:30pm on NWCN-TV, channel 2

We hope you'll tune in, and that you'll come visit the garden yourself! For more info on the Magnuson Children's Garden and the list of all our upcoming summer and fall events, click on the June posting above, or contact us at magnusonchildrensgarden@gmail.com

If you're interested in finding out about Magnuson Community Center's "Nature Explorers" Program would be a great fit for your child, family, or school, visit jrnatureexplorers.blogspot.com or contact the Magnuson Community Center at 206-684-7026.

Thanks again to Ciscoe, Meeghan, Anne, Wolfgang, and all the children and parents who brightened up the garden with their smiles today!