When it comes to celebrating Mother's Day there is no better way to show your mom how you feel then with a homemade gift from the heart. Grab your little gardeners and scroll down for some easy, homemade gift ideas for your Mother's Day celebration! Homemade Mother's Day Gift Ideas 🌸 Gardener Anna's DIY Sugar Scrub (click here) 🌸 Handmade Cards (click here) 🌸 Bead Your Own Bracelets (beading is fun & relaxing) 🌸 Flower Pancakes (click here for recipe) 🌸 Can't Beet It Salad (scroll down for recipe) 🌸 Flower Decorations (click here) Can't Beet It Salad Arugula Sliced Beets Capers Goat Cheese Sliced Almonds Drizzle with Balsamic Glaze & Olive Oil. Salt & Ground Pepper to taste. Recipe courtesy of Gardener Kim aka Bear, mother of 2 incredibly kindhearted children. Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing mothers out there. You are planting such beautiful seeds to help make our world a brighter place. We wish you a day, a year, and a lifetime of love, kindness and celebrations!

Celebrate National Public Gardens Day with us this Saturday, May 7th from 11-2 at the historic gardens at Macculloch Hall Historical Museum located in the heart of Morristown, NJ's National Historic District! We can't wait to meet and greet our fellow gardener friends. We will be signing books, doing fun crafts and we even have some gardener giveaways! This is a wonderful opportunity to get out and about and celebrate Mother's Day weekend. Stop by this Saturday at Macculloloch Hall and say hello! This FREE event will feature special presentations, nature scavenger hunts, art activities in the garden and at At 1:30 pm see The Raptor Trust's Fantastic Falcons. Rain or shine. Event: National Public Gardens Day Venue: Macculloch Hall Historical Museum Address: 45 Macculloch Avenue Morristown NJ 07960 Starts: May 7 2022, 11:00am EDT Ends: May 7 2022, 02:00pm EDT National Public Gardens Day, occurring annually on the Friday before Mother's Day, is a day to promote awareness of botanic gardens, arboretums, zoos, historic gardens, or any of North America's public gardens. This special event is a wonderful way to celebrate. We will see you there! Rain or shine. Macculloch Hall Historical Museum is committed to creating a welcoming, safe space for learners of all ages and learning styles to question, discuss, comment on, object to, and interact with everyday American history where it happened. On site, online and through outreach, MHHM strives to foster engagement with participants in environments where everyone feels respected and valued.

Gardeners of all ages love games but did you know that word searches and mazes help strengthen brain power, improve memory and problem-solving skills? As gardeners we are all about exercises and activities to help gardeners stay focused and improve concentration. Today we are sharing 2 brand new Gardener Games to enjoy at home and in school! Scroll Down for FREE Printables of our #PullYourWeeds® Word Search & Gardener Maze! << CLICK THE PHOTO FOR THE PDF VERSION OF OUR WORD SEARCH PLUS THE ANSWER KEY >> << CLICK THE PHOTO FOR THE PDF VERSION OF OUR WORD SEARCH PLUS THE ANSWER KEY >> Hey Gardeners...did you print out these games and use them at home or at school? We would love to see your pictures and hear from you what other games you would like us to create! Send us an email to flowers@youareagardener.com!

Meet our Gardener Of The Month, six year old Isabella from Branchburg, New Jersey. Gardener Isabella was so excited when she received her very own signed copy of our children's book You Are a Gardener® and other fun gardening goodies! Gardener Isabella Age 6, Branchburg, New Jersey My Flowers Are: Favorite Thing To Do For Fun: Arts & Crafts Favorite Thing To Do To Relax: Watch a Movie On My iPad Favorite Food: Pizza Favorite Book: Pete The Cat Books Favorite Song: Dance Monkey Thank you Gardener Isabella for sending us your photo and sharing with us your beautiful flowers... You are a gardener! We can't wait to see where you 'grow'. Did you know that every book we ship comes with customized flash cards and lots of gardener goodies 🦊 Click Here to get yours on order today! Now more than ever children need tools to help them navigate stress. By introducing a new narrative that uses gardening vocabulary as emotional metaphors, You Are a Gardener®️ organically connects with children to empower them with a mindset to help them ‘grow‘ forward feeling confident & calm. We now also offer private family workshops. Send us an email to flowers@youaraegardener.com to learn more. "This is more than just a children's book, it's an introduction to a new mindset on how to 'grow though' what you go through." ~ You Are a Gardener®

I am still glowing from all the beautiful and positive energy I encountered last week at the Copper Hill School in Ringoes, NJ. I am so grateful for Copper Hill's School Counselor Rebecca Moeri for reaching out and making the connection, for the enthusiasm of their Principal Jesse Lockett for my program, for the warm and welcoming greeting from their Vice Principal Amy Switkes and most importantly for the incredible student body of Copper Hill! Scroll all the way down to see a video clip of my FAVORITE part of the workshop! (Copper Hill's School Counselor Rebecca Moeri & Vice Principal Amy Switkes) "Necessity is the mother of invention." As the 2021/2022 school year took some unexpected turns, we ended up creating a customized #PullYourWeeds® Program for the Copper Hill School. They are the first school to receive our 'One-Click SEL Program'. Featuring a private web page exclusive to their school with a pre-recorded introductory #PullYourWeeds® Workshop, tons of activities, resources, worksheets and personalized visual aids for their teachers to use in the classroom. All 360 Students At Copper Hill School Are Now Certified Gardeners! The students at Copper Hill were so receptive to their 2nd #PullYourWeeds® SEL Workshop. Everyone wanted to participate and their responses were remarkable! This is by far one of the most beautiful school campuses I have ever visited. It is tucked away into a pastoral setting and all the hallways are filled with the most beautiful light. It literally feels like it glowing. I even got to meet the Copper Hill therapy dog Maddie! I can't wait to go back to Copper Hill School this June for our end of year workshop and Gardener Graduation. Let's just say my Illustrator Kelsey Jordan and I are planning something really HUGE!!!! Can you guess what it is? Thank you to Rebecca Moeri, Jesse Lockett and Amy Switkes and the students at the Copper Hill School for genuinely one of the best days I have ever had. I can't wait to see where it grows! << PRESS PLAY & TURN SOUND ON FOR MY FAVORITE PART OF THE WORKSHOP! >> When I hear this I know they get it! If you are interested in learning more about our one-click, customized SEL programs, in-person workshops and assemblies for elementary schools please send us an email to flowers@youareagardener.com #PullYourWeeds #NJSchools #SELPrograms

According to elementary school counselors & teachers there are some common concerns for the social and emotional impact that is occurring in the classroom. Now is the time to take a quick SEL assessment to find out what your school is in need of the most. Take our 3 question quiz & scroll to the bottom to see your results! ANSWER KEY: -If you chose mostly A's- We recommend scheduling a demo of our #PullYourWeeds® SEL Workshops/Assemblies. Click Here to book now! -If you chose mostly B's- We recommend emailing us at flowers@youareagardener.com to request a packet on our SEL programs that can be implemented anytime, anywhere! -If you chose mostly C's- We recommend booking a #PullYourWeeds® Assembly or Workshops for your school with free customized resources and activities for your staff to use in the classroom. -If you chose mostly D's- We recommend contacting our gardening team at flowers@youareagardener.com to create our customized 'One-Click SEL Program' for your school that works for your needs and budget! Empowering children with skills (aka gardening tools) to help them mange their stress and uncomfortable feelings is at the root of all our Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) programs. Our #PullYourWeeds® SEL Workshops & Assemblies for grades K-6 are a gentle, helpful and empowering approach to enriching the social & emotional values in your school. The You Are a Gardener® Platform & Our SEL Programs Are Rooted In ✔︎Children embracing & understanding that they have the power to control the way they feel. ✔︎Empowering children with growth mindset tools and mindfulness activities. ✔︎Self-empowerment, self-compassion and confidence building. ✔︎Keeping the lines of communication open between children and trusted sources. ✔︎Strengthening and building positive conflict/resolution skills. ✔︎Encouraging empathy and responsible decision making. Our #PullYourWeeds® Workshops/Assemblies are a wonderful way to brighten up your classrooms. All of our programs can be done in-person, online or with a series of customized videos. All materials are customizable to fit your needs and convenience.

Who's ready for an eggcellent spring craft? We had so much fun making these peek-a-boo baby chicks. All you need is construction paper or card stock , scissors, clothespins and glue! If you celebrate Easter, these would make adorable place settings! Scroll down for step-by-step instructions for this easy springtime craft... Gardener Aidan LOVES creating things and DIY projects. He cracked up making this eggcellent craft! -Use a small piece paper to cut out an oval shape. -Draw a zigzag on the back and then cut the zigzag pattern. -Glue a clothespin to the cutout egg (only use a tiny bit-a small tape rolled up could work too). -Cut out a tiny chick and draw a face on it. -Glue or tape the chick to the back of the clothes pin. Gardeners Tip: You don't need a lot of glue, too much can cause the clothespin to get stuck. Hey Gardeners...did you know that crafts and DIY projects are 'gardening tools'? Anytime you are using your mind to create something fun and delightful, you are keeping yourself on a positive path and making something fun like these spring chickens helps you to plant new seeds and stay out of the weeds. Learn more about gardening tools....Click Here!

In a world that is more connected than ever a complete disconnect is occurring. The influence of social media is now predominant in most households and causing gardeners of all ages to to be more anti-social than ever before. “Human beings are an ultra-social species — and our nervous systems expect to have others around us,” Emiliana Simon-Thomas, PhD Being social-emotional learning advocates we recognize how important it is to consistently encourage deep connections and screen free socializing. According to unicef.org, "Too much passive use of social media – just browsing posts – can be unhealthy and has been linked to feelings of envy, inadequacy and less satisfaction with life. Studies have even suggested that it can lead to ADHD symptoms, depression, anxiety and sleep deprivation." Today we are sharing some screen free tips to help gardeners of all ages look up and reconnect. Write letters to your family & friends! (Make your own note cards like we did here with our mini origami foxes). 2. Write a list of screen free activities you and your family & enjoy. Use this as a reference when you need to unplug. Click Here for some ideas. 3. Set timers for screen use. This helps young kids be responsible for shutting off devices themselves without being asked. 4. Lead by example and monitor your own screen time. Kids are always paying attention to what we do. 5. Schedule screen time to discourage kids from voluntarily getting on a device. Let's reconnect and plug into screen free socializing! #LookUp #Social #ScreenFree

Getting outside and surrounding yourself in nature can be an instant mood booster for gardeners of all ages. This week for Gardener Anna & Gardener Aidan's spring break we decided to hit the trails and take some hikes! While a light hike offers a wonderful exercise for kids, it also gives them an opportunity to explore nature, build balance by traversing over rocky terrain and is also a wonderful way to boost self-confidence! According to a study conducted by researchers at Stanford University, they found: "The simple act of hiking can help release chemicals in your child's brain that will help him or her to feel less anxious." (This video was taken at Jockey Hollow-A National Historic Park in New Jersey.) Benefits Of Family Hiking ✔︎ An opportunity to unplug. ✔︎ Explore nature. ✔︎ A fun way to get exercise. ✔︎ Make lasting memories. ✔︎ Calming and peaceful. ✔︎ Enhances motor skills. ✔︎ Screen Free ✔︎ Vitamin D ✔︎ Encourages kids to explore. ✔︎ Teaches endurance. (Photos taken at Kent Falls in Kent, CT) Hiking is a great opportunity to really talk and listen to your kids. Being surrounded by the silence of nature and all the beautiful sights can really inspire gardeners of all ages to open up. Keeping that line of communication open in a healthy and positive way... is what 'gardening' is all about.

Let's face it...we all have 'weeds'. As gardeners, it's always helpful to have a gardening toolkit full of 'gardening tools' to turn to when we need some help staying rooted. Today we are sharing a brand new gardening tool featuring a grounding exercise called 'You Are A Flower'. The practice of grounding helps to bring ourselves back to the present moment when our negative feelings and uncomfortable emotions (our weeds) start taking over. These exercises can be extremely helpful when we are feeling overwhelmed, scared, stressed, or unfocused. Scroll Down To Learn Our Easy Grounding Exercise 'You Are A Flower' & Download Your New Gardening Tool Badge! Sometimes all we need is a positive distraction to help us get out of the 'weeds' and back to our 'flowers'. Grounding techniques like You Are a Flower can be a helpful to use at home and in the classroom. This exercise only takes a few minutes and is great for gardeners of all ages. 🌻 YOU ARE A FLOWER 🌻 Close your eyes Pretend your feet are your roots, keeping you firmly on the ground Pretend your body is your stem, growing tall and strong Pretend your arms are leaves, moving with the wind Pretend you head is made up of petals, blooming beautiful colors and shapes Take a minute to visualize all the parts of your flower and then open your eyes Hey gardeners, did you give this grounding exercise a try? If so, then you just earned yourselves a 'You Are a Flower Gardening Tool Badge'! Do you have any grounding techniques aka 'gardening tools' you would like to share? Email us at flowers@youareagardener.com Still don't own a copy of our book? No problem! Follow this link to purchase a copy of your own! For a limited time, we are offering our dedicated blog readers a discount. Use the code 'STAYROOTED' for 10% off !

Our family is always on a quest to mix in new and nutritional meals that are both kid and family approved and we love recipes that are simple, sophisticated and super easy to make. Today we are sharing one of our family favorite salmon recipes. It has the texture of a fried piece of fish with its' crispy baked panko coating and the mustard marinade masks any fishy flavors that sometimes turns kids off of eating salmon. Not only is salmon delicious but it also packed with omega 3 fatty acids, which are proven to improve our mood...win, win! << Scroll down for our gardener approved recipe for Mustard Crusted Salmon >> Mustard Crusted Salmon (serves 4) ✔︎ 3 Salmon Fillets ✔︎ 4 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar ✔︎ 1 pinch of Sugar ✔︎ 2 tbsp of Dijon Mustard ✔︎ 1 tsp Ground Mustard ✔︎ Juice of 1/2 Fresh Squeezed Lemon ✔︎ 2 tbsp olive oil ✔︎ Salt & Pepper ✔︎ 3/4 cup on panko bread crumbs Grease a baking dish and preheat over to 375 degrees. Salt & pepper both sides of your salmon. In a blender combine all of the other ingredients (except the panko) and salt and pepper to taste. Spread the mustard mixtures on both sides of your salmon and place skin side down in the baking dish. Gently press the panko crumbs on the top of each salmon. Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes-(almost firm to the touch & flakes with a fork). Serve immediately. Getting kids involved in the kitchen is a fun and hands on way to teach them about nutrition. Most kids know the value of eating healthy and introducing them to new recipes is a wonderful way to keep mealtime a fun and an engaging experience. Preparing healthy meals together helps to provide children with a healthy foundation for future eating habits. Our #PullYourWeeds® Blog is rooted in empowering young kids with lots of tools to help their gardens grow healthy and strong. Eating healthy and learning how to cook are wonderful additions to their toolbox.

It was so exciting to be back for our 2nd #PullYourWeeds® SEL Workshop at Kings Road School in Madison, NJ this week! As of today, every student in grades K-5 has now earned 9 'Gardening Tool Badges'! That means all students have learned several positive ways to 'grow through' stressful encounters with tools to help them regulate their emotions. As new gardeners, the students of Kings Road School already have a strong understanding of how important it is to identify uncomfortable feelings (weeds), how to communicate them with a trusted source (pull your weeds) and how adapting new 'gardening tools' can help them successfully process difficult emotions (turn weeds to seeds). We are already planning something pretty HUGE for our 3rd Workshop...stay tuned! Last year we added a new element to our SEL programs where gardeners can earn their 'Gardening Tool Badges'. These level appropriate activities & exercises open young gardeners minds to new skills/tools, that with practice can stay with them for life when they encounter stress and big emotions! As ‘gardeners’ we needs lots of 'gardening tools' to keep our emotions rooted in a calm and confident state. Are you and your kids/students ready to start adding some new 'Gardening Tools' to your emotional toolkit? DM us to get started!