Peter Horton - Educator

Different things to do for the different seasons to enjoy the outdoors.

Seasonal Gardening / Yard Tasks

Spring:

• Clean up debris from winter.
• Prepare soil with compost/fertilizer.
• Plant flowers and vegetables.
• Prune trees and shrubs.
• Mulch plants.

Summer:

• Water plants regularly.
• Weed flower beds and vegetable gardens.
• Mow the lawn.
• Fertilize plants.
• Monitor pests.

Fall:

• Harvest fruits and vegetables.
• Clean up dead plants.
• Plant spring bulbs.
• Rake leaves.
• Winter preparation for sensitive plants.

Story: Wendy’s Home, Yard, and Garden: The Crew That Helps Her

In Grayling, Michigan, Wendy has a cozy house with a beautiful yard. Her grandchildren, Charlie and Abbie, help her garden every spring. They mow the lawn, weed the flowers, plant new seedlings, water vegetables, and harvest fresh produce. Wendy’s friend Peter assists with the vegetable garden, and their dog Blue protects plants from pests. Gardening becomes a fun, educational, and social activity, connecting family members and teaching responsibility, teamwork, and appreciation for nature.

Here’s a dialogue version using the vocabulary words you provided. Each character speaks naturally, and the key words are highlighted in bold:

Wendy: Good morning, everyone! First, we need to clear the yard of all the debris from winter.

Charlie: Wow, there are a lot of sticks and leaves! I can help pick them up.

Abie: I’ll help too! After we clean, can we work on the soil?

Peter: Yes, that’s a great idea. Let’s mix some compost into the soil to make it rich for planting.

Wendy: Perfect. Once the soil is ready, it’s time to plant some colorful flowers in the garden.

Abie: I love planting flowers! Which ones should I plant first?

Charlie: Let’s start with the daisies. They look so bright and happy.

Peter: Don’t forget to prune the bushes while we work. It helps them grow better.

Wendy: I’ll spread some mulch around the flowers to keep the soil moist and protected.

Abie: I can do the watering! I’ll make sure the garden stays healthy.

Charlie: While you water, I’ll weed the vegetable patch so nothing unwanted grows.

Peter: Great teamwork! Now, we need to mow the lawn to keep it neat for visitors.

Wendy: Before we finish, I’ll add some fertilizer to the vegetable beds to help them grow faster.

Abie: Oh no! I see some bugs. Can we take care of the pest problem?

Peter: Yes, we can spray an organic solution to remove the pests safely.

Charlie: The garden looks amazing now!

Wendy: Fantastic job, everyone. Our garden is clean, healthy, and ready for a beautiful spring!

Optional Classroom Use

Read aloud the story as a choral reading.

Identify gardening verbs: plant, prune, water, weed, mow.

Discuss: “Who helps in your garden at home?”

Writing extension: Write your own garden story.

Practice Study Guide – ESL

Instructions: Read each question. Write or say your answer.

• What do you do in a garden in spring?
• Example Answer: I plant flowers.
• What tool do you use to water plants?
• Example Answer: Watering can.
• How do you remove weeds?
• Example Answer: I weed the garden.
• Name one seasonal task in summer.
• Example Answer: I mow the lawn.
• What do you harvest in fall?
• Example Answer: Tomatoes, carrots.
• What do you put in the soil to make it rich?
• Example Answer: Compost or fertilizer.
• What tool is used to dig small holes?
• Example Answer: Trowel.
• What do you do to rose bushes in fall?
• Example Answer: Prune them.
• Why is gardening good for you?
• Example Answer: It is healthy and fun.
• How can gardening help the environment?
• Example Answer: It reduces waste and connects to nature.