Good morning. The big yellow buses are back on the road and that can mean only one thing to gardeners — the season is wrapping up. It seems to be a habit of mine this time of year to imagine what I would like to do in the spring. A space that isn’t quite right might need some revising; some plants didn’t look the way I had hoped  and need to be replaced; or perhaps a new space is in order. The possibilities can be exciting and fun.

At the beginning of the season, I promised you a column on creating children’s gardens, so today is the day. But do remember, they aren’t just for children. If you are a lover of the mystical, magical or folklore in general, a garden space can be a gratifying way of indulging that passion.

I frequently drive by one garden that is readily identifiable by an array of old farm implements displayed among the flowers and another created by a gardener who is obviously a rock collector. There is a garden on the coast that boasts a 4-foot tall fairy house, a wishing well, chairs, a mailbox and more — all designed as if by magic for those mystical creatures. And judging by the perfection of the house, lawns and gardens, it has been a long time since children ran about helter-skelter.

To get started, decide what kind of garden you want to build and then consider what you have for available space. Obviously, if it is for children, formal goes out the window and things like pebbled paths, wide-stepping stone paths and secret hideouts would be good. Clear delineations of where little feet can go and where they cannot need to be apparent. This can be accomplished with short border fencing along edges; and small play areas where they can sit and examine  caterpillars are always fun.

If you have room, designing the garden area around a playhouse is the most fun because child-size tables with chairs, benches and mailboxes can be included. I saw a playhouse that was delightful because the roof had been designed as a planter and was covered with colorful flowers.

The point is you can go as big or as small as you wish and your budget allows; and most children will be delighted, no matter what.

I saw a children’s garden in Florida that must have been designed by a gardener who also values education. It had a series of meandering paths with only a few ornamental trees, several small shrubs to give it substance, a wide array of colorful flowers and about eight very large planters. Each of the square planters was painted white; and on each side was a large letter painted in a primary color. They looked like large old-fashioned alphabet building blocks.

A big planter with the letter “C” contained a canna. Between the large planters was a stretch of garden bed with small signs, also white with primary colored letters that marked a patch of flowers. A patch of impatiens sported a sign with an “I” and underneath was written “impatiens.” So you could progress through the garden from A to Z and not only learn the alphabet but also the names of the flowers. Even without the alphabet theme, the signs were a neat way to label special plants, although the upkeep on painted signs might be a bit formidable.

Fairy tale gardens are also fun — and not as difficult as you might imagine. Match your favorite fairy tales, the ones you want your little ones to hear, with spaces in the garden. Provide a fun bench where you can sit and read stories, and little imaginations will take care of the rest. Plant a bean stalk for Jack or an apple-scented geranium for “Snow White;” get a rabbit sculpture for the “Velveteen Rabbit” or a happy pig for the “Three Little Pigs.” This one can be easy or as difficult as you want, and it doesn’t require a new garden. Intersperse the plants and sculptures in an existing garden, add a reading bench and there you go.

You didn’t think you would escape without discussion of the magical fairy garden, did you? Fairies lend themselves to gardens, children and imaginations. Did you know it is quite easy to make a huge spider web between two trees with fishing line? Constructing fairy houses requires only a scavenger hunt in the woods to gather materials and children find this to be half the fun. Children love little things like tiny tables and chairs, benches, gardening implements, stepping stones, mailboxes, wishing wells and on and on. And every time they go to the garden, they can rearrange the furnishings.

I love fairies, but you can also go with dwarfs. Everybody knows they do mining so you can use rocks to build many, many things. I have a friend whose children enjoy leprechauns. I don’t know if they have built a garden, but I do know the little green guys come and bury treasure in the form of little toys, etc… and then clues must be followed and hikes taken to uncover the prizes. All of this is fun for little ones, occupies a chunk of time and stimulates creative thinking and learning.

Building a children’s garden can be fun — and half the fun is in the building. So make sure to include the little ones in the planning, shopping and choosing of plants and sculptures and other furnishings. It is, after all, their garden, too.

Also make sure you find a good “bug book” with colored pictures and easily found listings because we all know that “if you build it, they will come.” And unlike most adults, children find bugs fascinating. My grandson, Conlin, has taken to walking about the gardens and collecting caterpillars and bringing them back for all to admire. Invariably he asks, “What is it going to be?” I need to find a caterpillar book; so if you know of a good one, please let me know. Conlin and I along with my granddaughter, Nola, take walks whenever they are here to find the latest butterfly caterpillars and attempt to find their chrysalis as well. These activities keep them outside, stretch their curiosity and minds, and teach them myriad “fun stuff.”

Until next time, enjoy the hummers because they will head south soon, watch for butterfly hatches because they will be following right behind the hummers and pick some early apples. And, watch for caterpillars.

Happy gardening.

Jody Goodwin has been gardening for more than 25 years. She lives in Turner with her husband, Ike, and two cats. She may be reached by writing to her in care of the Sun Journal, 104 Park St., Lewiston, Maine, 04243-4400 or by e-mail at jodyike@megalink.net.

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