In our home daycare, nature often leads the way—but nothing prepared us for the powerful Illinois storm that changed our outdoor space overnight.
Fallen Mulberry Tree
Illinois weather surprised us this week. During my son’s middle school graduation, hail and strong winds swept through our area. The next night, we experienced something even more unusual—a dust storm. I was shocked when my phone issued a “dust storm warning.” And yes, it happened—the uptick in dirty cars at local washes is proof.
By morning, our beloved mulberry tree had been uprooted. It landed on our fence, knocked down our outdoor camera, and tore off the bird box that had housed a family of baby sparrows.
Thankfully, the fence wasn’t damaged, the camera can be repaired, and I could rescue the baby birds, except for one. Still, it was hard to lose the tree. It shaded our outdoor classroom, attracted countless birds, and added a sense of calm beauty through every season.
Son cutting up the mulberry tree
I had plans to make mulberry jam this summer. The children used the berries last year in several nature-based art projects—paints, potions, and play. That tree offered more than fruit and shade. It inspired us.
But instead of discarding what remained, we chose to reuse it. My son sawed branches into tree cookies—small wooden rounds the children painted today.
children art
They noticed the bare spot in the yard and asked about it. Their questions shifted into excitement when they saw the art invitation: tree cookies and paper bags ready for painting. I wanted to offer them space for expression, storytelling, and a tangible lesson in resilience, intelligent materials, and reuse.
children painting wood cookies
I often smile at how I pivot and use what’s right in the yard to guide the children’s learning and curiosity.
Until next time, I’m Miss Sue—your educator in the trenches, guiding you one small step at a time toward a big impact.
Inside the mulberry tree branch
We are working on some mud kitchen recipes and will be adding this one to the volume – Coffee in the Mud Kitchen
