Garden Faire

Activity #6 - WWVD: What Would Victorians Do?
The Victorian Dance Ensemble, the performing troupe of the Civil War Dance Foundation, is a group of living historians who share a love of the grace and beauty of mid-nineteenth century dancing.  They are dedicated to promoting and advancing preservation, educational, cultural, commemorative, and performing arts programs. Each year at Garden Faire, we feature this incredible group to educate our guests on what life looked like in the mid-1800s. From formal dances to hands-on demonstrations, guests can experience a bit of the past. Click on the link below to learn some of the dances that the organization usually teaches. In this video, the Victorian Dance Ensemble demonstrates several short versions of Civil War Era dances. 

Introduction to Victorian Dance

Activity #7 - Bees and Pollinator Gardens
Donna, a volunteer with the Friends of Fort Hunter and a Penn State Extension Master Gardener (Dauphin County), takes us on a trip to her apiary. An apiary is a collection of beehives. Bees are pollinators and are critical for pollinating plants that produce a wide variety of foods such as apples, blueberries, tomatoes, almonds, apricots, and more. Pollinators are responsible for almost 1/3 of the foods we eat every day. Various wildflowers also depend on bees for pollination.

Take a trip with us to Donna's apiary to see what happens when a group of bees gather on a tree and then are shaken into a new hive.

Video links: Bees in a Tree | Swarming Bees | Establishing a New Colony

Download our Pollinator Plant Guide so that you can turn your garden into one that is beneficial and good for bee life and health. These plants are available at your local nursery store. Additional information on how to make your garden pollinator-friendly can be found here. 

Activity #8 - Make a Whirligig!
What's a whirligig?! A whirligig is an object that spins or whirls. This could be a pinwheel, a piece of metal art, a weather vane, or something as simple as the one we are going to make. While the origin of the whirligig is unknown, they were known to be used by children as a toy in both the Victorian era and today. Even Native American kids made a version of this toy.

How to make a whirligig:

• String or twine
• A scrap of heavy recycled cardboard
• Gluestick
• Scissors
• Kitchen skewer or toothpick
• Our printable whirlygig pattern template

1. Print out your templates and choose which two patterns you’d like to use best or have the kids design their own following our pattern.
2. Cut out the pattern.
3. Glue one pattern onto your recycled cardboard scrap, cut around it with the scissors, and then glue the second pattern onto the reverse.
4. With the kitchen skewer or toothpick, poke two small holes in the middle of the design, about ½ inch apart. Make the holes large enough for the string or twine to go through.
5. Cut the string or twine about 36 inches long.  Thread the string through the holes.  Tie the ends of the string together in a knot once done.

 That’s all! Now just twirl and whirl.

Activity #9 - Fort Hunter Trivia
Test your knowledge with some Fort Hunter Trivia. Just download the quiz here!

Activity #10 - Make Your Own Fairy Garden
Here's another fun family project to get your hands dirty!

Pie pan or container
Potting soil
Grass seed
Bean Seeds or Flower Seeds
Miniature found objects – pebbles, old miniature toys, sticks, shells, feathers, seeds, sand, moss, wings

1. Place potting soil in the pan or container.
2. Place objects on soil.
3. Sprinkle grass seed around objects. 
4. Plant 3 - 4 single flower or bean seeds.
5. Lightly water and place in a sunny windowsill or porch.
6. Keep soil moist.

Watch your garden grow!