Hello Gardeners! In honor of starting to film #Season2 of #HelloGardeners, let’s look back at our very first episode. We received a weed from #GardenerAlexandra who explained that a classmate of hers was alway bumping into her and getting in her space - and that was in turn causing her to get frustrated and distracted. She was afraid that telling a teacher would be tattling, and she didn’t want to be a tattle-tale. So, where’s the line - what’s the difference between tattling and asking for help? Let’s break it down - tattling is telling ON someone. When we tell on someone, we are suggesting that that person deserves to get in trouble or suffer some sort of consequence for their actions. Tattling is a passive and non-direct way of dealing with a problem. A more productive route is to either address the person directly or consult a teacher or parent - not with the hopes of getting the other person in trouble - but with the end goal of solving the issue! Addressing people face-to-face can be really scary - you don’t want to hurt the other person’s feelings and it can be hard to tell your peers exactly how you’re feeling. At the end of the day, practicing direct communication will always be better! It will make weeds easier to pull, boundaries better established, and communication clearer! To celebrate the #EasterWeekend here is a craft from #Episode4 when we visited Sugar Rush in Madison, NJ and made some colorful candy art! Perfect for those leftover jelly beans and candies in your Easter basket. All you’ll need is: A sturdy piece of cardboard or canvas Craft glue LOTS of colorful candy Then just start gluing! Maybe you’d like to make a rainbow, or a garden full of flowers, or even a *sweet* self portrait. Watch the gardeners below if you need more ideas (start at 1:49!). We'd love to see your candy art! Be sure to tag @youareagardener and let us see those SWEET creations. Catch you next time gardeners and as always #PullYourWeeds!

Hello Gardeners! With #MothersDay and #FathersDay just around the corner, now is the perfect time to remind ourselves of those special mentors in our lives and about how much they mean to us. It doesn’t matter if these individuals aren’t biologically our parents - all that matters is that they have helped us pull our weeds, plant new seeds, and water our flowers! Sometimes it might be easy to forget, but our babysitters, coaches, teachers, parents, uncles, grandmothers - every adult in your life has weeds! Gardens have no expiration dates and weeds have no age limits. They grow with us and the types of weeds and flowers change as our lives progress. If you ever notice that one of those special people seems down or a little blue, be there for them! Show them the same support you would a fellow gardener that is your age. Here are a few things that you could do to brighten their day: -Write them a nice note -Draw them a picture -Help out around the house - put your dishes in the dishwasher, clean up the floor of your bedroom, take the garbage out -Make them a handmade bouquet of wildflowers -Set the table for dinner Something to show them that you are there and you are thinking about them! We would love to hear about your mentors or the special things you did to say thanks. Shoot us an email at flowers@youareagardener.com or tag us @youareagardener. Thanks for tuning in gardeners and remember to #PullYourWeeds!

Hey there Gardeners! This week, the entire Pull Your Weeds™ team is craving some sun, so we thought we would revisit Episode 6 of Hello Gardeners, when #GardenerAnna and #GardenerAidan went to the beach and learned that animals can have weeds too. The gardeners’ grandfather, Dr. Stanley Truffini, is a veterinarian and he taught us about recognizing fearful behavior in animals when they are stressed (dogs in particular) so that we can stay safe! We see dogs everywhere - at our friends’ houses, at the park, in our neighborhoods. Most of the time, our four-legged friends just enjoy the everyday flowers, but sometimes 'weeds' come up when humans, other animals, and loud noises, scare them. When dogs get scared or stressed they can respond by growling, lunging at us, or biting us. Here are some signs that a dog is stressed: 1. Ears are back 2. Dog is showing its teeth in an aggressive way and growling 3. Tail is tucked under its body 4. Dog is hiding or looking to escape the situation When we see these signs, it’s very important to back up, give the dog it’s space, to not lock eyes, and to not interact with the dog. The best thing to do when meeting a new, non-fearful dog is to get down to their level, put the back of your hand out in front of you, and let the dog come to you. Remember, most of the time, our furry friends just want to sit with us and show us love, but it’s important to remember their boundaries and to keep ourselves and our dogs safe. As a thank you to our dogs for always providing us with flowers and love, here is a quick and easy dog treat recipe that they are sure to love! Ingredients: 1 ripe banana 1 cup of uncooked oats 1 heaping spoon of peanut butter (substitute canned pumpkin if you have a nut allergy) Start by preheating oven to 300º Let them cool, then place in a food safe container and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks! Thanks for checking in this week and send some pictures of your pets to flowers@youareagardener.com or tag @youareagardener! We would love to see the animals that fill your gardens with flowers. Have a great week and don't forget to #PullYourWeeds!

Hello Gardeners! Recently, our author #GardenerShanna and our illustrator #GardenerKelsey had the pleasure of attending the New Jersey Montessori Association Corporation (#NJMAC) Conference. Many of you might not know that alongside selling the book, we have lots of different programs that you can bring to your school. Whether you are looking for in-service hours for your educators, book readings for your students, or workshops for parents - we have you covered! It was so wonderful #SpreadingSeedsOfPositivity and showing the Montessori family how to incorporate the gardener mentality into their classroom. We loved hearing keynote speaker #AlfieKohn speak about the importance of addressing the deeper meaning behind actions and behavior through communication - or what we would call pulling a weed! This visit to the NJMAC Conference reminded us of Episode 5 of #HelloGardeners - where #GardenerAnna and #GardenerAidan visit their school, Long Hill Montessori, and spread seeds to their classmates! Gardener Shanna came to their classroom and read the book, demonstrated some conflict resolution scenarios, and every student went home with a Certified Gardener seed packet! We are so thankful to the Montessori Community for being so supportive of You Are A Gardener™ and for embracing the gardener lifestyle! Check out some photos from the NJMAC Conference and if you are interested in bringing #YouAreAGardener to your school, be sure to email events@youareagardener.com. Thanks for joining us today, and remember to #PullYourWeeds!

As the ground warms and Spring nears, little flowers are beginning to pop up around every corner. Why not use these little sprouts of energy as a reminder to think of the 'flowers' in your life! Each time you stroll the flower aisle at the supermarket, come up with a 'flower' from your day. When you swap out your seasonal decor and wipe down your floral candle holders, make note of a 'flower' from your morning. These little daily flower sightings can act as gentle reminders to walk through your garden every day and make note of your 'flowers.' You Are A Gardener™'s illustrator, Kelsey DeLaney, tested out our idea in her own home! See her flower reminder moments below - what are some of yours? Let us know! #GardeningMindset #PullYourWeeds™ Let us know some of the floral 'moments' you've had in YOUR home! We hope they make for a peaceful, happy day!

In many of our #HelloGardeners episodes, a common piece of advice is to find a parent, teacher, or a trusted adult and tell them what’s going on. Children come to us for security and support - we need to be prepared to listen and respond appropriately. When a child approaches you, and wants to talk in private or seems nervous even about asking you to talk, that should be a sign that THIS IS IMPORTANT! Even if it doesn’t seem important, the fact that he or she is bringing it up means it’s important to him or her. LISTEN. Listen with more than just your ears - pay attention to body language and facial expression. Try to read between the lines in case something bigger is happening. RESPOND. If you see something concerning, such as a fearful child, re-establish their safety. If you see a child is anxious, re-establish the calm - take deep breaths, remind them that everything is going to be okay, tell them they are safe. ACT. Offer some sort of solution. You might not have all of the answers, but you can provide a next step. Maybe this is a meeting with the other child involved in the conflict, maybe this is offering a safe space for the child to calm down, maybe this is a hug. Offer something. CHECK-IN. If the conflict warrants it, repeatedly check in with the child. Make sure they feel heard, supported, and loved. When we encourage gardeners (of any age!) to open up to us and be vulnerable, we need to be there. A weed can’t fully be pulled until there is some closure, and a seed can’t be planted until a solution is offered. So, be there, listen, respond, act, check-in. Sometimes all a child might need is a minute to breathe and a few mantras to repeat. So below we have a Mantra Card craft - this can be done in your classroom, around the kitchen table, at a friend’s house - wherever! Here's what you’ll need: A sturdy piece of card stock (any size you like) or an index card A permanent marker Colored pencils or markers for decorating Ask your gardeners to write down some mantras that might help them feel better during tough times. Here are some examples: I am calm and peaceful You are okay I love myself I am safe Take a deep breath Be brave I can do it! Write the mantras in permanent marker, and decorate your card with pictures that make you feel good - flowers, hearts, kittens, your family, your skateboard, etc. Kids can keep this card in their backpacks or teachers can tape it to the students' desks. Sometimes all we need is a little reassurance and when we can look at a card like this, that is made 100% for us, we hear exactly what we need to hear in those overwhelming moments. Thank you for being the trusted adults you are and don't hesitate to send us some pictures of your mantra cards! We would love to see them. You can watch Episode 6 and all of the other #HelloGardener episodes here - and give us a big thumbs up if you like what you see! Remind your kids, your students, your nieces & nephews, and yourself that the future is BRIGHT!