The secret garden

When I was a little girl, my siblings and I spent a considerable amount of time shimmying up a tree in our backyard into a ramshackle tree house. There was nothing secret about the tree house (in fact, it only had three side walls so mom & dad could always see what we were up to), but it did feel like our own little piece of the world.

A few weeks ago, I found another little piece of the world for Noah. On the Knox County Career Center campus (of all places!) right in town, exists a Children's Garden. Each of the trades studied at the school participates: horticulture, carpentry, welding, electrical... you get the idea.

On a whim and a 60-degree day in November, I decided Noah and I ought to stop by, just to see what the Garden had to offer. What a gem! There were toddler-sized houses and trains to ride on; towers to climb and boats to float in; an amphitheater to watch or perform masterpieces; and bountiful plants everywhere (although most had lost their oomph since winter is nearly upon us).

Noah was enchanted, and so was I! Best part: visits to the Children's Garden are FREE. Oh yes, we'll be regulars.

Tiny house, tiny windows, tiny porch. Like living in a dollhouse world!

Choo choo! Noah got to ring the bell and yell, "All aboard!"

One building had a make-shift xylophone that you played with a spatula. Nifty.

A view in the garden. The windmill's locked, but you can sit in the little boat, and the houses in the back are miniatures too.

We climbed up a fort to check out the view. Those steps are ridiculously bitty, by the way. I nearly wiped out numerous times.

A covered bridge that led us to more adventures.


This look out-style tower with a spiral staircase reminded me a bit of our house. Noah just loved running in circles at the top.