Every child deserves a doorway into wonder.
Sometimes, that doorway looks like a garden gate. Other times, it’s a single pot of mint on a sunny balcony, a patch of soil by the back steps, or a row of marigolds growing in a recycled tin.
As a garden designer, I’ve spent years helping people create beautiful outdoor spaces. But some of the most meaningful gardens I’ve ever seen are the simplest ones, especially when they’re shared with children. When I was writing my children’s book, Through the Garden Gate, I found myself returning again and again to the quiet magic of small, everyday moments in the garden. Not grand landscapes, but the way a child pauses to watch a caterpillar climb a stem, or the excitement of discovering the first tiny sprout pushing through the soil.
Earth Day is a beautiful reminder that we don’t need vast green spaces to connect our children to the natural world. What we need is intention, curiosity, and a willingness to slow down long enough to notice the small miracles happening right in front of us.
"Through the Garden Gate," written by Author Sharon Rose, illustrated by Erin Brown
Children are natural storytellers. When they step into a garden, even the smallest one, they begin to imagine. A curled leaf becomes a fairy’s bed. A line of ants transforms into a busy parade. A tomato plant becomes something they’ve nurtured, watched, and helped bring to life. Gardens invite children to participate in a living story, one that unfolds a little differently each day.
You don’t need a sprawling backyard to create this experience. A balcony, windowsill, or even a few containers by the front door can become your family’s storybook garden.
Start small and let your child lead. Choose a few plants together, something sensory and forgiving. Herbs like basil and mint are wonderful for little hands to touch and smell. Cherry tomatoes offer the thrill of watching something grow into a snack. Flowers like sunflowers or zinnias bring color and attract pollinators, which opens up an entirely new world of discovery.
As you plant, invite your child into the process. Let them dig, scoop, water, and even make a little mess. There is learning in every step. They begin to understand patience as seeds take time to sprout. They see cause and effect as sunlight and water shape growth. They develop care and responsibility as they tend to something beyond themselves.
But perhaps the greatest gift a garden offers is the opportunity to slow down together.
In our busy lives, it’s easy to rush from one activity to the next. The garden asks something different of us. It asks us to pause. To notice the way a leaf unfurls. To listen to the hum of a bee. To feel the warmth of the sun and the coolness of the soil. When we share these moments with our children, we are teaching them that the world is worth paying attention to.
Earth Day can be the beginning of this practice. Try setting aside a small, regular time to visit your garden space together. It might be 10 minutes in the morning or a quiet moment before dinner. Bring a sense of play into it. Ask your child what they notice. What has changed since yesterday? What surprises them?
"Through the Garden Gate," written by Author Sharon Rose, illustrated by Erin Brown
You might even add a storytelling element. Give your garden characters and names. Imagine what happens overnight when no one is watching. Who visits? What adventures unfold?
These small rituals create lasting connections, not only to nature, but to each other.
When children grow up with even a tiny garden, they carry something important with them. They understand that they are part of the natural world, not separate from it. They learn that care, attention, and time can create beauty. And they begin to see that magic is not something far away or out of reach. It is something they can cultivate, right where they are.
This Earth Day, open the gate, even if it’s just a small one. You may be surprised by the story that begins to grow.
Sharon Rose is an award-winning garden designer and environmental artist based in San Francisco. She is the founder of STUDIO SF Landscape Design, where she revitalizes natural landscapes and creates distinctive outdoor spaces. With over two decades of experience, her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Sunset Magazine, and Luxe Interiors + Design. She is passionate about inspiring children to see the magic in the natural world. Through the Garden Gate is her first book.