There's something magical about watching a child pull a ripe tomato from the vine for the very first time. It's more than just harvesting vegetables. It’s discovering where food comes from, learning patience, and experiencing the pride that comes from caring for something they've

helped grow.

The Riverlights Children's Garden Club is a fun group for children in our community who want to learn about gardening, nature, and how things grow. Children plant, play, learn, and take care of a garden together. This Spring/Summer season, the Children's Community Garden has quickly become a place where curiosity blossoms alongside tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and flowers. Throughout the season, our little gardeners have been getting their hands dirty while learning valuable lessons about nature, teamwork, and responsibility.

On April 25th, soon after Earth Day, the children gathered for their first garden morning which served as the kick-off to the planting of the garden beds: herbs, veggies, and pollinators. Myatt Landscaping & Construction does the heavy lifting: Misty and her crew handled the planting of

all the beds ahead of time, so the children could focus on the fun part which is learning about and labeling every item in each garden bed. They eagerly labeled plants, watered the freshly planted beds, and learned the basics of how gardens grow.

One of volunteer Maryanne Spatola’s favorite moments of that morning was story time, when one of the young gardeners read Tomatoes Grow on Vines, helping everyone understand the incredible journey from tiny seed to thriving plant. It was the perfect introduction to a season of

discovery.

Together, the children explored and labeled three unique garden beds, each with its own purpose. The vegetable garden featured tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, squash, and cucumbers. The herb garden featured basil, cilantro, parsley, thyme, and sage, while the pollinator garden featured petunias, cosmos, buttercups, and penstemons creating a beautiful space for bees, butterflies, and other important pollinators.

As the weeks passed, those tiny plants transformed into thriving gardens, and so did the children's confidence.

Being the first year, turnouts have been small and delightfully unpredictable with anywhere from 4 to 12 kids showing up on a given morning, ranging in age from 4 to 10 and always accompanied by an adult.

During a recent garden gathering, the young gardeners learned one of the most exciting skills of all which is how to recognize when vegetables are ready to harvest. Carefully inspecting each plant, they picked ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers while stopping to smell the scents of

pineapple, basil, sage, and thyme.After gathering their fresh harvest, the children helped water the garden, reinforcing the importance of caring for the plants throughout the growing season. And because gardening on a warm summer morning is hard work, they wrapped up the day with plenty of laughter while cooling off under the sprinkler. It was the perfect ending to a memorable morning.

For Maryanne, watching the children get involved, learn, and play together has been one of the sweetest parts of the program. One of the most touching moments has been seeing the older children read a book tied to the topic of the day to the little ones at each workshop. And nothing quite captures the spirit of the garden like the pride on a child's face carrying home their own veggies and herbs - proof of their part in the growing cycle from seed to sprout to harvest.

The learning didn't stop in the garden. Chef Beth Scanlon shared delicious ideas for turning the harvest into homemade pesto, herbed butter, and fresh tomato bruschetta, helping children and families discover fun ways to enjoy what they've grown together.

Programs like the Children’s Community Garden are about so much more than vegetables. They encourage children to slow down, ask questions, work together, and appreciate the simple joy of nurturing something from seed to harvest. Along the way, they're creating friendships, building confidence, and making memories that will last long after the growing season ends.

A heartfelt thank you goes to Maryanne Spatola, Mary McCoullough, Cindy Lindquist, and Myatt for preparing the garden and sharing their time, knowledge, and encouragement with the children. Their dedication continues to make the Children’s Community Garden a place where

both plants and young minds can flourish.

Want to join in? We'd love to see more children and adults out in the garden! Premier Management sends out a community letter notifying property owners of upcoming garden dates, so keep an eye on your inbox as they'll be planting a new fall garden in late September.

As another season of gardening continues, one thing is certain: the Riverlights Children’s Community Garden isn't just growing vegetables - it’s growing future gardeners, lifelong learners, and a deeper appreciation for the outdoors!