When a young person’s heart turns to flowers

A dutiful dog, bottom right, stays out of the children’s garden in Rockefeller Park

April showers have already brought flowers to Rockefeller Park — many of them planted by children. Fenced off from the rest of the Battery Park City park’s open space, is a small children’s garden.

Inside the garden is a colorful arrangement of flowers, which are identified by small white signs written by the children themselves.

“No dogs allowed” and “Even if you like dogs, they aren’t allowed here,” read other signs in the garden also written by children.

The children’s garden is a product of the gardening club, an activity run by the Battery Park City Parks Conservatory. Garden preparation started in late March by children participating in the Early Spring Gardening Club which started March 20 and ran through April 24, with weekly meetings on Tuesday.

Elementary school age children in the program plan the gardening beds, and test the soil.

Currently, there aren’t any vegetables growing in the garden, as it has been cold for much of the season. However, the club will be planting carrots, radishes, and tomato plants.

-- Kristin Edwards