Gnome and Garden Activities
The Holden Arboretum welcomes you to explore the natural world of a gnome through eight fun family activities. These activities will be introduced throughout the summer to help children learn about plants and animals. Different activities will be featured each week and are based on aspects of gnome folklore. The activities include:
Gnomes bring good luck and are helpers in the garden and home.
Activity: arts of a flower puzzle, “how pollination works” demonstration, plant a sunflower seed, and Butterfly Garden scavenger hunt. During the activity, visitors learn about pollinators and other natural garden helpers.
Like people, gnomes use fragrant plants to make perfumes for their loved ones.
Activity: Families will be given a trail map that highlights fragrant plants growing around Blueberry Pond, discovering the different smells in nature.
Dragonflies are gnome children’s favorite animals.
Activity: dragonfly life cycle diagram, puzzle, craft, I spy dragonfly, dragonfly/damselfly tic-tac-toe, and identify dragonflies and damselflies. Guest will learn more about the life cycles of and differences between dragonflies and damselflies.
Gnome children love to climb trees and build secret tree houses.
Activity: match the product to the tree/ guess the tree product inside of the box, discovering the role trees play in our everyday lives.
When a tree falls down in a forest, gnomes count the tree rings. If the tree was older than 101 years, they celebrate and plant another tree in its place.
Activity: count tree rings, measure the circumference, and count whorls, learning how to tell the age of a tree.
A gnomes favorite place to hide from predators is in an old tree stump.
Activity: identify what the plant sample does to defend itself from predators, play camouflage I spy, and use tough-o-meters to test leaf thickness. Learn how plants and animals avoid being eaten.
Gnomes never have to wear glasses. They eat plants with purple flowers to keep their eyes healthy.
Activity: follow the trail map and discover the medicinal plants around Holden. Learn about the importance of nature as it pertains to human health.
Listen carefully the next time you take a walk through a forest. If you hear leaves rustling or a branch snapping, there may be a gnome close by.
Activity: insect mouthparts game, animal track bean bag toss, and signs of animals scavenger hunt.
Gnomes use leaves from the forest floor to mulch their gardens.
Activity: search for organisms in dead logs and learn why dead trees are important to a forest community.
