Plant a pumpkinseed with a child, and cultivate wonder. This simple act of reconnecting with children with nature is Sharon Lovejoy's purpose and joy and gift. Author of Sunflower Houses: Garden Discoveries for Children of All Ages and Hollyhock Days: Garden Adventures for the Young at Heart, Sharon Lovejoy is a nationally known garden writer whose books, television specials, and projects at her learning landscape in California have introduced thousands of children to the pleasures of gardening.

In her newest book, Roots, Shoots, Buckets and Boots, she presents 12 spirited, easy-to-implement ideas for theme gardens that parents and kids can grow together. Illustrated throughout by the author's own lyrical watercolors, each garden includes a plan, the planting recipe — seeds, seedlings, and growing instructions spelled out step-by-step — and activities. There's the Pizza Patch , a giant-size wheel garden planted in "slices" of tomatoes, zucchini, oregano, and basil. A Flowery Maze to get lost in. A Moon Garden of night-blooming flowers, including a moonflower tent. And Mother Nature's Medicine Chest.

Discovery Walks teach kids how the gardens work, and a chapter on gardening basics includes a child-friendly 10-Minute Plan for planting and maintenance, plus a list of the top 20 plants guaranteed to make gardeners out of kids.

The simple act of connecting children to nature through gardening is Sharon Lovejoy's special purpose and joy. In her newest book, ROOTS, SHOOTS, BUCKETS & BOOTS, she presents 12 spirited, easy-to-implement ideas for theme gardens that parents and kids can grow together. Illustrated with the author's own lyrical watercolors, each project includes a plan and the planting recipe--as well as a "Discovery Walk," activities and crafts to make with what you grow.

Sharon Lovejoy is an award-winning garden writer and naturalist. She is also a contributing editor to Country Living Gardener magazine, a frequent guest on HGTV, PBS, and the Discovery Channel, and a lecturer at conferences, botanic gardens, arboreta, and gardening organizations. She lives in northern California and Maine.

TOP 20 PLANTS FOR KIDS

THEME GARDENS:

The Pizza Patch

Sunflower House

Buckets, Boxes and Boots

Snacking and Sipping Garden

Moon Garden

The Flowery Maze

A Garden of Giants

Mother Nature's Medicine Chest

Zuni Waffle Garden

GARDENING BASICS

How to Plan, Plant and Care for Your Garden