Drop in and Dig: The Enormous Turnip

by Jonah Holland , PR and Marketing Coordinator, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden 

It was a great day! First Children’s Garden Educator Ms. Dawn read The Great Big Enormous Turnip, based on a Russian folk tale about a turnip soooo big the whole family had to work together to pull it.  As each member of the family helped the papa pull the turnip, this little girl held up the picture of the family member who helped with the pulling.

Then we found an enormous turnip in the Children’s Garden and had to work together to pull it!  Even little brother and mom helped!

Teamwork — everyone has to pull together! Just like in the story.

It really was super-big! Bigger than any of us thought, really.

Wow, that’s a big turnip!

Ms. Dawn and her new friend! It was a most excellent day.

I’m sharing this with you because just yesterday, I got a note from this little girl’s mom asking if we have any good children’s activities at the Garden that they could come to. I explained that we had lots of great choices!  Happily, I ran into her and her little ones on the way into the Garden and walked down to the activity with them and took these photos. Then afterwords,  the little girl’s mom emailed me this photo and some comments, “…Thank you again for letting us know about the children’s activities. She was just gesturing to me and saying “pull the turnip.” She is showing me that she has really learned from Ms. Dawn.”

Did you know the Garden offers a wide variety of drop in programs for kids that are free to members and free with admission? This program mentioned above is called Drop in and Dig. We also have Garden Art Studio, activities at Flowers After Five, Good Green Fun and Drop in and Move.  You can learn more about all these programs on our website: http://bit.ly/happeningnow