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Re: [SHADEGARDENS] Kids Dogs and Flowers

In order to keep bike riders out of my garden (along a driveway), I had to
resort to using patio blocks on their sides.  Now if a kid "accidentally"
rides into my garden, he/she is likely to destroy their bike tires.  I did
this after I found evidence of kids picking their bikes up out of the
driveway and purposefully putting them in the middle of my bed and riding a
few feet in a straight line--nothing "accidental" about it even though their
parents defended them!  We now seem to have a better behaved group of kids
(at least for 2 years).  Who knows what this summer will bring!

I also pass out lots of bouquets for grandparents, aunts, uncles,
girlfriends, etc. so the kids have learned to come ask.  I give them a brief
lesson on making the flowers last longer by stripping off the leaves that
will be in the water and send them on their way.  Now most of the "problem"
kids actually come ask if I will help them.  When you live in a neighborhood
of wall-to-wall townehouses filled with lots of single parent families or
minorities with language barriers, you have to find some way to work with
instead of against the kids.
Diana Pederson
SUITE101 Editor:  http://www.suite101.com/topics/page.cfm/262
Home page:  http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Acres/1945/index.html
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