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In the fall, one of my 5-year-olds buried an apple seed from one of her apple snacks in the forest play area. That Spring, when she saw this sprout popping up, she was convinced it was her apple tree. She built a protective stone wall around it, and she and her friends checked on it every day. She would tell us stories of harvesting the apples for her snack anytime she wanted. Despite the children's diligent watering, the sprout withered once the season heated up. No one seemed to mind. The apples had borne fruits in their minds, and they were completely satisfied!

In the sandbox, the 4 to 6-year-olds experimented with just the right amount of water to create buns, which they sold in their bakery. The oldest 6-year-old was the leader, and he created a kind of prep line with the younger children. A highlight was when a 5-year-old child dug a pit with a wooden ramp going into it and told everyone, "guys, this is the compost!"

I love to discover these curated arrangements the children leave behind them after their play. All you need to create something beautiful is a stick, some yarn, and a pair of beautiful yellow flowers!

It is wonderful to see how the children choose a space, and then, with purposeful intent, make another space inside of it.

In the early Autumn, a favorite activity is dyeing with marigolds. Our dye bath remains a centerpiece on the table for the children to watch as the white wool yarn braids absorb the summer golds. As we pull out our braided crowns we say: 

The summer sun's might

Gives us golden flowers bright

And golden flowers bright give our yellow color light.

Thank you golden sun for your summer's might,

And thank you golden flowers for this yellow so bright.