With summer right around the corner, we had a chat with our new Beanstalk Summer Assistant, Jeni Welsh and asked her to tell us a little about a magical field trip destination that we highly recommend!
Here’s what she had to say:
We’ll let you in on the best kept secret in Kansas City. Located at the Kansas City Community Gardens headquarters in Swope Park, come discover over 300 varieties of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and other plants that will awaken your curiosity. The Beanstalk Children’s Garden is an urban oasis designed to engage your senses!
Tantalize your taste buds as you wander throughout the 6 areas of the garden- fruit, grain, veggies, herbs, water, and flowers. Explore local plants as you taste seasonal fruits and vegetables. There are even five varieties of radishes growing, so there is bound to be one you’ll like!
The goumi tree will be fruiting in May, so stop by for a visit and pick your own goumi fruit to taste test. This Asian tree produces sweet fruit with a chewy edible pit.
Observe vegetables of all varieties growing in the raised garden beds or step into the gourd house to find some shade on a hot, sunny day. In the herb garden, run your hands along the lavender and chamomile and search for swallowtail caterpillars in the bronze fennel and the dill.
Take in all the garden aromas as you count the toads and toad poles in the water garden. Listen to the mockingbirds while you look for a strawberry in the strawberry patch. Can you distinguish what they are mocking? Taste a sour French sorrel and a sweet strawberry. Your fingers will turn purple when they grab a mulberry from the tree for tasting!
Discover all this and more at The Beanstalk Children’s Garden!
The Beanstalk is open from mid-June to mid-October, Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 12pm.. While independent visits are free, guided tours must be scheduled in advance at the cost of $2/person.
Book your tour by visiting the website here or by emailing tours{at}kccg.org.
KCCG follows the guidelines of Kansas City, Missouri for COVID restrictions. Masks are required.
