This weekend, on Sunday, Oct. 8, Children's Museum of Phoenix will open a new exhibit: The Children's Garden (pictured, rendering). The garden is an outgrowth of the Museum's Artist-In-Residence Program made possible through a generous $100,000 grant from the William Randolph Hearst Foundation. The Children's Garden at the Museum was designed and constructed by the team of Joan Baron, Laurie Lundquist and Kevin Moore, while Gothic Landscaping supervised the construction of the Garden and the majority of plants and trees were donated by Arizona Wholesale Growers.

The garden, located within the Museum's outdoor Move It! exhibit, is designed in a leaf pattern with seven planting beds and includes one raised leaf-shape wheelchair accessible garden. An interactive water pump will provide an easy and fun way for children to water the growing garden. Vegetables, herbs and flowers are planned for this one-of-a-kind garden experience at the Children Museum of Phoenix with fruit trees providing a sweet addition to the space.

Within the garden, children will be exposed to hands-on, messy play in the garden where they will feel the dirt in their hands and the trickle of water on their toes while interacting with the garden components. Many of the activities in the garden will be guided by a garden program facilitator, however, children and their caregivers will also be able to explore the garden independently. As children explore the garden they will learn the names, variety, types, and parts of plants exposing them to organic and hands-on learning using real items. Additionally, through these discussions with facilitators, children will be exposed to rich vocabulary and content language.

Opening-day celebrations are planned for 9 a.m. to noon. (A special Members preview will take place from 9 to 10 a.m. when Museum members only will be able to get the first look at the Garden and plant the first seeds.) 

In addition to planting the very first seeds in the garden, children will also be able to plant a seed in a cup to take home and watch grow. Additional celebration activities include making tissue paper flower hats and investigating insects with an entomologist.

The Children's Garden at the Children's Museum of Phoenix will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.