How safe is your yard? |
Children and animals love to spend time outside, but is your yard safe for them? Use our safety checklist to find out.
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Make it interestingChildren love fast-growing (morning glories), colorful (sunflowers), and fragrant plants (honeysuckles). Consider varieties that pets love too (catnip, wheatgrass, or mint). Teach children about the ever-changing environment in which they live by choosing plants that grow or change by season or temperature.
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Make it interactiveCreate opportunities for interacting safely with wildlife by selecting plants that attract butterflies (lavender, black-eyed susans) and hummingbirds (daylilies). Create safe feeding stations that are out of the reach of pets for birds and squirrels. Water features (fountains, ponds) can provide home to fish or frogs. Watching wildlife is a great way for families to spend time together.
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Make it hands onKids love to get their hands dirty, so let them! Planting a garden together is a great opportunity to spend time together and develop appreciation for the environment. Whether it is a flower bed, herb garden, or vegetable plot, whether it is small or large, the benefits are the same.
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