The days of August bring a time for not only harvesting and additional plant and flower care, but it offers a chance to go out exploring in your garden with the kids in your life.  It can be as simple as flower color or texture recognition to plant, fruit, bug and vegetable identification.  Items found can be crossed off a list, collected for further exploration or even better - eaten fresh.  Ready, set, explore!

Before you begin, remember to adjust your exploration so it is age appropriate and safe for all.  Scavenger Hunt options are listed below based on a specific type of garden you may have but any can be combined.  (Italic items are more challenging or may require more research for older children.)

Garden Scavenger Hunt

Flower Garden/Flower Planters

• Find a red flower (Find a salvia bee balm or geranium flower-how many petals are on each stem?)

• Find a Hibiscus plant (Are hibiscus in Minnesota considered an annual or perennial? 

• Answer: There are different types of hibiscus. Some are considered tropical and are annuals unless brought inside for the winter. There is also a perennial hardy hibiscus that can be grown in Minnesota

• Find a fragrant smelling flower. (Name the flower found.  Do you think marigolds have a fragrant smell?)

• Find an annual plant. Find a perennial plant. 

• What makes each type of plant an annual or perennial?  What is a biennial? 

• Answer: Life Cycles = annual-1 year (marigolds, impatiens); biennial-2 years (foxglove, dianthus) and perennial more than 2 years (hostas, daylilies)

Vegetable/Fruit Garden

• Find a green vegetable (Find a green bean.  What is the difference between a bush bean and a pole bean?  

• Answer: Bush Beans=lower and more compact growing plants; larger harvests over a shorter period of time; usually planted in rows.  Pole Beans=vining and climbing plant; smaller harvests but extend over entire growing season; need trellis system to grow on)

• Find an herb (Identify the herb found and taste it.  What can this herb be used for? 

  • Answer: Examples - Basil=pesto; Oregano=pizza; Lemon Balm=tea, salads)

• Pick a ripe tomato (What type of tomato did you pick?  Example-Roma, Cherry, Grape, Yellow)

• Find an orange vegetable (Examples: peppers, carrots, pumpkins)

• Find a root vegetable or the tops of a root vegetable (What is a root vegetable? 

•  Answer: the plant parts eaten are underground-examples are carrots, potatoes and radishes.)

Bugs and Leaves

• Find a bug and explain what it is doing (Identify the bug found - does the bug benefit or harm the garden vegetation?)

• Find a tomato plant and look for an unhealthy leaf (What would make my tomato plant unhealthy and what do the leaves tell me?  

• Answer: pests, disease or an environmental problem.  Example: Yellowing leaves can mean a nitrogen, iron, magnesium or potassium deficiency or overwatering.  

• Find a honey bee and tell us three characteristics of the bee.  

• Answer: striped abdomen; amber brown color and four clear wings attached to the thorax. 

• (Why are honey bees important to our garden?  

  • Answer: honey bees are essential for pollinating plants)

• Find a leaf in the garden that has been chewed on by an insect.  (Turn over the leaves, look near the base of the plants for the bug responsible for the chewed-up leaves.  Identify the bug.)

Getting outside into your gardens are so much more fun when shared with the children in our lives!

Photo Credit: Pixabay.com (1), pxhere.com (2,3)