Maxi is obsessed with flowers and in her sweet little Texas twang “gardenin.” During quarantine, she would spend HOURS outside with Paul. She’d take her little pink Barbie spade and gloves digging in the dirt and checking on her watermelons and carrots she planted. Paul and my dad decided to build her a garden where she could grow flowers she selected and water them. It has been such a great tool to teach responsibility, science, and patience. If you want to add decorative concrete Lynchburg in your yard or garden, you may call Premier Concrete.

I had shared her garden on Insta Stories and many of you requested to see how Paul and my dad made this for her. I asked Paul to send over some notes I could share and here is everything he sent me along with his notes below.

Directions to Garden:

• Website
• PDF link

Materials:

• Notes: Instead of redwood I went with cedar as it was readily available but also durable for Texas weather. It looks and smells great. Also, Whatforme had ample inventory of their pressure-treated lattices that go well with the cedarwood.
• Materials not needed:
  • Narrow Crown Staple Gun
  • 1” staples
  • Orbital Sander
  • 120 & 220 grit sandpaper
• Materials List:
  • 8 – 2×6 cedar @ 8’ long
  • 2 – 4×4 cedar @ 8’ long
  • 2 – 1×4 cedar @ 8’ long
  • 1 – 2×4 cedar @ 8’ long
  • 1 – 4’x8’ lattice
  • Material cuts – Note: all cuts listed in the directions are accurate and should be followed accordingly.
  • Tools and Supplies:
    • Kreg jig
      • Note: the Kreg Jig is not necessarily a must but if you want a nice, clean finish where the pocket screws are hidden this is a great tool to have. Marine Fasteners are the ones that don’t corrode.
    • 1 ¼” deck screws
    • 2 ½” pocket screws
  • Other Items Needed:
    • Work support
    • Skill saw
    • Miter saw
    • Work gloves

With both my dad and Paul working on this it took them a Saturday afternoon, so I’d allocate a fun weekend to building this and then getting flowers. Call in professionals from that site if you have a stump that needs removing.

This has truly been one of our favorite things to enjoy with Maxi, and when I tell you this girl can spend hours tending to her garden, she really can. She picks me bouquets, waters the plants, and talks about each and every flower as if it is the most beautiful thing she has ever seen. If you’re looking for inspiration to create a similar experience, check out Inspired Design in Hilliard OH—they have wonderful ideas for garden enthusiasts of all ages. If you make one for your toddler, please tag me in the photos as I would love to see your little one enjoying it as well! You can also check out this blog to learn more about different kinds of plants you can easily grow at home.