Gardening is a great way for children and their parents to bond; it ...

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - ALL SHORES - Fast on the heels of the winter that wasn't, many nurseries and home improvement stores are scrambling to get their landscaping supplies and outdoor fresh flowers ready for the spring planting season.

Don't leave your children out of this seasonal activity this year. Experts say that gardening is a great way to teach them many things, among them patience and the true meaning of the old adage, "the fruits of one's labor."

"Gardening teaches kids a lot of things that are left out in our quick- fix society today," said Hans Wiesner, co-owner of Willowbrook-based Wiesner Brothers Nursery, 2402 Victory Blvd. "It teaches your child to have a little bit of quiet time, peace. It teaches you to get back in touch with nature, and to see the potential of what something can become."

Wiesner, a landscape architect and gardening enthusiast, suggests starting a small project with your child either in your back yard or, if you don't have outdoor space, on your window sill.

"Gardening also grooms the imagination because you can plant vegetables and flowers in different combinations or settings, even in a pot," he suggested. " You can see how it progresses over the summer and the kids can take pride and ownership in it."

The activity is also one of the most economically sound ways to enjoy time together with your child. According to the expert, to get your thumb green, all you need is a peat pot which can hold up to 20 seeds, some starter-mix soil and either flower or vegetable seeds. These essentials cost under $10 and can be found at any nursery or big-box store that has a gardening center.

In the case of vegetables, be sure to check the amount of time it should take for the seeds to mature, as some produce, like peas, can take over two months to ripen. No matter how long it takes, if you do it right, the end result is a perfectly plucked crisp veggie for dinner.

"It is a lot more satisfying when you get to enjoy the fruits of your own labor and especially when you get to enjoy it at your own table," said Wiesner.

Wiesner Brothers Nursery is a Staten Island institution. It's been in operation over 80 years and employs three generations of landscaping artists. The nursery covers eight acres and is home to countless shrubs, bushes, flowers, and even stoic statues that can turn any outdoor space into a beautiful oasis.

While visiting the nursery, you might be treated to the sound of clucking chickens. It is not a soundscape CD playing over loud speakers; the nursery maintains a coop filled with live hens and one very assertive rooster. The animals play a special role: They keep insects and bugs away from the plants and offer up dozens of fresh eggs daily, which will also be on sale soon.

And what do you do if your attempt to grow a garden fails ? or doesn't yield the results you expected? According to Wiesner, who admits to a few not-so-perfect attempts at coaxing seedlings into rich vegetation, there is no such thing as failure.

"It's a learning lesson, if you make a mistake. But I think you look at it like Thomas Edison; you learn about one way not to garden."
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Source: http://www.silive.com/northshore/index.ssf/2012/03/gardening_is_a_great_way_for_c.html

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