THE PAINTED GARDEN

MACY'S FLOWER SHOW: THE PAINTED GARDEN
Sunday March 24, 2013 - Sunday April 7, 2013
Macy's Herald Square (in a pop up tent)

The annual Macy's Flower Show is a great tradition to start off the Spring season.  This year they are celebrating India and the southern regions of Asia.  Exotic blooms and over the top statues transport viewers to paradise.  The 20 minute line moves fast and is well worth the experience of walking through the visual landscapes.  As a bonus, it's stroller friendly!  We had fun naming flowers we recognized and finding new flowers we didn't.  But the showstoppers are really the statues of elephants and buddhas, as well as the colorful market place scenes.  

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF:

1. Young kids should not be expected to memorize names of flora and fauna, but it is fun to grow familiar with names in conversation.  "Ooh- look at those peonies...almost like the one's we saw in your book yesterday."  Going through the tent, ask which flowers sound familiar to your child.

2. What animals and figurines can you find hidden within the flowers.  Make a list!  Try to replicate some of the visuals in drawings later!

3. This year's theme was India-- find an age appropriate topic within that idea to explore.  Take out a library book on elephants, and draw/ paint your own.

4. Make a spring garden out of paper.  

EXTENSIONS:

* Read some wonderful books about gardens:

A Rose In My Garden- Arnold and Anita Lobel
Frog and Toad Together (The Garden)- Arnold Lobel
Linnea in Monet's Garned- Christina Bjork 

*Celebrate spring with a trip to the farmers market for flowers to fill your window box.