Flap your wings like a chicken!

Hudson flaps happily at... something in the garden.

We attended the Seattle Garden Show yesterday with the explicit aim of spending time in the Playgarden for kids they had set up there.  (And also to see the fabulous garden designs on the other side of the show as well.)  We each paid the entrance fee of $20, which I still feel a little queasy about,  but I feel like it was worth it.  Hudson was squirming in my arms while waiting in line so much that I was not about to question the ticket booth attendant about their pricing policy. 

When we finally made it inside and figured out where the Playgarden was, we had a super duper great time.  We had to make it through the trauma of watching the musician, Caspar Babypants, play the guitar that Hudson couldn't touch (trauma of all traumas).  He played fun songs though, and all the OTHER kids were dancing around and jumping up and down, not squirming on the floor and crying.  Sigh. 

Little Guy digging in the seeds!

The next challenge was going into the "chicken coop" and desperately wanting, then not wanting, to touch the hen.  There were bigger kids picking up the hen and touching it, and I think it was also a bit crowded (Hudson could not maintain physical contact with me at all times) so Hudson was both ecstatic and freaking out at the same time.  He was flapping his little arms at the chicken intently, but then he'd reach out for it, and then retreat emphatically and start crying.  The other adults were getting a kick out of it.  I'm glad we could provide some extra entertainment for you all. 

The digging gardens were the best.  That's where we found our rhythm.  There were planting boxes full of chicken feed that were set up like sand boxes with diggers and dumpers and sieves and cups.  Then there were planters full of real dirt and hidden vegetables that kids were digging out.  I can't imagine how much effort it took to set up that garden.  Hudson played in the seeds with the trucks (filling the dump truck, dumping it out) nearly forever and only had a couple toddler run-ins when sharing the dump trucks became an issue.  He loved discovering the vegetables, and when he found a carrot he immediately tried to eat it.

I was mildly observant at the Playgarden and saw that it is in fact a permanent place in Seattle, somewhere in South Seattle, and by the looks of their website it is a pretty cool place.  Next time I think I will take the trip down there instead of paying $40.  But at least we brought our own lunch, and we were able to walk around and see some other garden fun at the show before Hudson descended into total pre-nap and overcrowded grumpiness.  He was happy again in his backpack as we walked up towards capitol hill where papa had parked the car, because there was traffic and taxis and trucks and other favorite vehicles. 

Thanks for a fun morning, Garden Show!