Last spring we all spent a lot more time in the garden—maybe for the first time. This year, keep your kids gardening with plants and accessories that not only thrive in our temperate climate but show your city spirit too. From Zoo Doo to sporty gnomes, your kids will really dig these Seattle garden must-haves.

Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo

1. Zoo Doo
While Woodland Park Zoo's Zoo Doo Compost has "serious gardener" written all over it, we think it also screams "kid!" After all who else can appreciate the commingling of rhino, giraffe, hippo and zebra poop better than a toddler? Families can find Zoo Doo in two-gallon ($25) and pint-sized buckets ($6.95) at the ZooStore year-round.

2. Pacific Rhododendron
Colorful and oh-so-easy to grow, Rhododendron belong in Seattle gardens. Not only is it the state flower, but it also announces the arrival of spring with a much-needed pop of color.

Polly Dot via Pixabay

3. Pollinators
Make your house a home for mason bees this year. These gentle bees pollinate fruit trees and bushes at a rate 100 times that of honeybees, and including them in your Seattle garden is as easy as renting them in spring. Help your garden grow and help your kids connect to the food they eat—that's a win-win!

4. Fairies
Did you know that the original miniature garden maker lives in Seattle, and that she used to work at Swanson's Nursery? It's true. Local author Janit Calvo is all about installing a small garden in your big one, and we couldn't think of a better way to entice your kiddos to exercise their green thumb. Before you build your fairy garden, get inspired by these imaginative environs.

amazon.com

5. A Spirited Garden Gnome
If you've got fairies in your garden, you may as well invite a gnome to live there too. If he's wearing Seahawks colors, you know he'll fit right in. Now to track down a Seattle Storm gnome—anyone got a lead?

6. A Rain Gauge
They say it rains here. But are they right? Find out how much when you place a simple rain gauge in your garden. Shhh... don't tell the kids, but taking daily, weekly or monthly measurements adds extra science to your garden growing experience.

Jan Haerer via Pixabay

7. Your Beach Combing Treasures
If you've been trying to figure out where, oh where to put your little beach bum's pocketed treasures, why not try the garden? It's the perfect spot to arrange sea glass, special rocks and seashells kids collect after a day tide pooling or sandcastle building.

8. Scented Ground Covers
Because you can only remind your kiddos so many times that "flowers are fragile," plant durable ground covers that can survive a toddler's busy feet walking over them. And if they're scented—even better. Corsican mint, dwarf chamomile and many thymes release fragrant scents when touched or walked on. This fascinating feature will surely keep your little gardener's attention.  

Filip Urban via unsplash

9. "Attractive" Plants 
Make your garden come alive with butterflies and hummingbirds. Attract them by planting colorful blooms they can't resist. Hummingbirds love orange and red hues you'll find in bleeding hearts, honeysuckle and fuchsia. Butterflies look for colorful flowers that easily grow in our climate, like sunflowers, lantana, lupine and johnny jump-ups.

10. Things to Eat
Whether you've got a container on your deck, a raised bed in your backyard or a P-Patch plot in your neighborhood, planting fruits and veggies are what summer gardens are all about. Strawberries, tomatoes and simple herbs that kids can grow and eat makes gardening an exciting way to spend the day. Not sure where to start or what to plant? Check out Swanson's vegetable gardening resources to get started.

—Allison Sutcliffe

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Celebrity pastry chef Marina Sousa, owner of Just Cake, is forecasting five surprising fall dessert trends for this year. Marina is a celebrity baker, Food Network Challenge champion and winner of the celebrity cake-off on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

She recently partnered with Nielsen-Massey Vanillas on their Better Your Bake campaign to share step-by-step videos, tips, and recipes for basic baking techniques to help home cooks feel more confident in the kitchen.

Here’s what she predicts we’ll start to see in bakeries across the U.S. this fall:

  1. Floral Flavors: Floral flavors like jasmine, honeysuckle and rose water will make an appearance this fall as customers seek brighter flavors to perk themselves up as the days grow shorter. I’m excited to infuse some warmer flavors into my fall baking!
  2. Bite-sized Treats: Smaller desserts will likely trend through the fall and into the holidays as consumers look for ways to still enjoy a decadent dessert without packing on the pounds.
  3. Global Desserts: This fall, expect to see desserts inspired by cuisine and flavors in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa to grow in popularity as customers look for ways to expand their palate with desserts.
  4. Browned Butter: This simple ingredient adds a sweet, slightly nutty taste to desserts and is seeing a growth in popularity as home bakers learn more advanced baking skills. Browned butter is a simple ingredient but it can completely change the flavor of nearly any dessert. It’s one of my favorite tricks for elevating your home baking skills! (Pro tip: if you’ve never tried to brown butter before, check out this Better Your Bake video from Nielsen-Massey Vanillas to learn more!)
  5. Out With Pumpkin, In With Maple: September brings the start of pumpkin-flavored-everything, and bakeries are no exception! While the past few years have been all about pumpkin, we’re going to start seeing more maple-infused desserts again this fall. Maple brings warmth and decadence to any dessert and is naturally associated with autumn.

Chef Marina recently partnered with one of the world’s premiere vanillas, Nielsen-Massey Vanilla, as part of Nielsen-Massey’s #BetterYourBake campaign to teach basic baking techniques and give home bakers more confidence in the kitchen. For more trend-forward recipes with fall flavors, as well as baking tips, tricks, and techniques, check out BetterYourBake.com

Marina Sousa is the owner and pastry chef of Just Cake. She's earned recognition for her st‌yle and unmatched quality and frequently designs cakes for celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and Miley Cyrus. She often appears on Food Network where she has won first place on Food Network Challenge and served as a judge.

   

Have you been racing around all summer? Some people might tell you to stop and smell the roses. We’ll tell you to stop and hear the birds chirp. The perfect place to do it — and squeeze in some peace and quiet — is Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary. This pretty and well preserved slice of nature is tucked out of sight along Lake Michigan. With wildflowers, rugged trails and surprises around every turn, it’s a stroll your family needs to take.

Shhh … Hidden Gem Ahead
There aren’t many signs indicating you’ve arrived at Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, a Chicago Park District gem that’s cradled in a grove of trees and shrubs next to Montrose Beach. And that’s okay; the thrill of discovering this spot is part of the fun. You can access its trails from Montrose Avenue, just before you get to the bend in the road near Lake Michigan (look for the wooden panel on the north side of the road). Or, if you’re walking along the lakeshore path, there’s an unmarked eastern entrance that takes you across a sweep of sand dunes before you duck into the trees.

Listen — hear that? It’s either the lilt of birds chattering or the soft rush of waves lapping the shoreline. Either way, welcome to paradise.

Fun on the Trails
You can spend 15 minutes here, or a few hours, depending on your little explorer’s interest in nature and energy level. Wood chip and dirt trails lead in every direction and there are no arrows or panels to guide your way. Some paths ramble into thick woodlands, where you’ll see bunnies and squirrels dart in front of you; others cut through open prairie land, where you can feel the sun shine down and watch songbirds fly overhead. If you need to bring a stroller, you’ll have to stick to the central, wider paths, and make sure your wheels have good suspension because the paths can get bumpy.

There have been more than 300 bird species recorded as being spotted in the park. You’ll have the most luck getting an up-close look at the rarest ones in a special spot that’s been nicknamed “The Magic Hedge.” It’s a swath of honeysuckle shrubs and small trees on the west side. When the weather gets a little cooler and birds start to migrate, you’re likely to see the biggest and most colorful variety, including sparrows and more elusive species like the Blackburnian warbler. In summer, shore birds like plovers and sandpipers flock to Montrose Beach. Still, whether you spot birds or not, a walk along the trails will leave you feeling relaxed.

A Bit of Background
Back in the 1930s, the Chicago Park District created the area as part of a landfill expansion. It was all designed by famous landscape architect Alfred Caldwell, who is also known for his work on the picturesque Lily Pool near Lincoln Park Zoo. Montrose Point was used as a military base in the ’50s and ’60s and then returned to parkland. A few decades later the Magic Hedge was continuing to draw interest, so community groups and birdwatchers helped plant new flowering trees, shrubs and wildflowers here, making the park what it is today.

Nearby Attractions & How to Get There
From Lake Shore Drive, exit at Montrose Avenue and go east toward the lake. Along the way to the north you’ll pass Cricket Hill, the city’s best place to fly a kite. You can find free street parking, or go to the park-and-pay lot where Montrose Avenue meets Simonds Drive. To get closest to the bird sanctuary, look for parking spots on Montrose Avenue, along the east side of the boat harbor.

After your stroll, flag down an ice cream cart or truck (numerous vendors wheel by several times daily) and sit by the harbor to enjoy your cool treat. You can also take it to the wide concrete “steps” in front of Lake Michigan (oh, the views!) or head to Montrose Beach, which even has a special area for dogs to paddle around in.

Have a blast — and bring your binoculars!

Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary
at Montrose Avenue & Lake Michigan
312-742-7726
Admission is free
Online: chicagoparkdistrict.com

Have you ever been to this secret spot? Let us know in the Comments!

— Kelly Aiglon

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Photos: Chicago Park District & Kelly Aiglon

Spring is the beginning
of hiking season for many Bay Area families, and whether you’ve got infants strapped to your backs or toddlers attached to your hand, there’s many a trail out there for the nature-loving clan. These five (plus a bonus!) trails are relatively flat, with several clocking in at under a mile. Regardless, you can be certain to hang about for awhile, as the colors and sounds of spring on these trails are sure to keep the young ones in the outdoors.

Jewel Lake Nature Trail
This gem of a hike in Berkeley’s Tilden Park is leisurely enough for toddlers. Begin at the Environmental Education Center by Little Farm, where you can pick up a booklet for a self-guided tour of Jewel Lake, then veer away from the farm and the crowd to escape into a delightful little haven. 750 feet of boardwalk through the woods lead you to the lake in fairytale fashion. You’ll enjoy pointing at turtles, ducks, butterflies, and birds, and at just under a mile long without hills, this hike leaves you plenty of room to walk slowly and stop often.

Tennessee Valley
A family favorite, Tennessee Valley offers a level trail that won’t leave you huffing and puffing. Warm Winter days and Spring are great times to walk this trail, as the poppies, buttercups, and blue-eyed grass will be in full bloom and the birds will be singing. Walk the picturesque scenery between the hills of Mill Valley and you’ll reach Tennessee Beach in less than 2 miles, where you can reward yourselves with a seaside picnic.

[rt_marketplace_drop_in title=”A HIKE FOR ALL AGES THROUGH THE TENNESSEE VALLEY” photo=”746790″ shopify_url=”http://events.tinybeans.go-vip.net/products/a-hike-for-all-ages-through-the-tennessee-valley/?utm_source=seo&utm_medium=article-widget&utm_campaign=Hike-TenValley-061415?utm_source=web&utm_medium=article-widget&utm_campaign=A+HIKE+FOR”%5DThe rambling paths of your local city park are perfect for a casual afternoon, but if you want to show your kids the splendor of the Marin Headlands, there is no place like Tennessee Valley in Mill Valley. Sunday, June 14th [/rt_marketplace_drop_in]

Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve
Even the name is sweet, and this little hike in the Oakland hills is a treasure for the fam to enjoy. One thing you’ll notice immediately is Huckleberry’s lushness—the flowers here seem to be in bloom all year and the foliage is everywhere. In fact, Huckleberry hosts plant species that are rare to the East Bay, with origins in an ancient geological past. At only 1.7 miles with a tame upper trail, the hike is well worth the family’s afternoon.

Land’s End
For a walk in the city, this destination feels as remote as the mountain trails. Cypress-filled Land’s End leads you along the San Francisco coastline, from the Sutro Baths to the Legion of Honor, and the views of the Golden Gate, Marin Headlands, and San Francisco are picture perfect. It’s nicely paved for hikers of every level, and there’s no need to go off the main path to the many pocket beaches in between. The Coastal Trail alone is 11 miles, but it branches off to a doable 3.5 mile loop.

Thornewood Open Space Preserve
This 167-acre getaway near Woodside hosts an easy hike for the family–the .75-mile Schilling Lake Trail, winding through oaks, maples, and redwoods before reaching the lake. The .7-mile Bridle Trail opens this year, emerging into an oak canopy forest. While it will only take an hour to walk this distance, you’ll want to take your time, observing the hummingbirds and honeysuckle as you navigate through sun and shade. Don’t forget your little ones’ hiking hats!

Muir Woods National Monument
If you haven’t been to Muir woods in a while it’s worth a visit.  You’ll feel as though you’re walking among kings as you traverse the mile and a half boardwalk that meanders through one of the last old growth redwood forests on the west coast. The trees are the main attraction of course, but you can see gorgeous ferns, migrating birds, coho salmon and steelhead trout in the creek.  If you are adventurous, you can leave the boardwalk, and head up a series of trails that connect with the lengthy trail system on Mt. Tam. You can also go slow, and spend the afternoon in the glory of this natural cathedral. Temperatures are chilly, and the forest is damp, so bring a sweater, even in the summer. There is a $5 entrance fee per adult, children are free.

Have a favorite hike to do with your fam that’s not on this list? Let us hear about it!

—Renee Rutledge

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