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We affectionately call this tree The Butterfly Tree. The rambling branches tumble over the fence from next door, creating a perfect little natural cubby house underneath. The kids and I love trimming the branches from the under side to make more of the space, and sweeping the floor with branches.
I had tossed around the idea of hanging some bunting inside the butterfly house, but then I discovered I had a bunch of these metal butterfly cutouts from a broken piece of jewellery. Perfect! My daughter wanted to hang them on rainbow ribbons, so we bought some 99c rolls of ribbon in a range of bright colours. We also bought some jingly bells to add some sound to the colour.
My daughter threaded the ribbons onto the metal butterflies and I tied the knots. Then we took them outside to hang in the butterfly house. They look absolutely gorgeous! A secret little rainbow of butterflies to welcome visitors to the cubby. Sadly the photos don’t capture them very well, but hopefully they give you the idea.
By the way, it took me longer to find out what the tree is than it did to plan, photograph and write this post. FINALLY I think I have an answer: Red Orchid Tree (Red Bauhinia). It’s very common around Brisbane, and I’ve blogged before about using the leaves for leaf rubbings. Anyone know if I’m right?!
Where have your kids been playing this week…?
Can’t say I know anything about the type of tree, but the butterflies are a wonderful addition. So nice to include the gentle stimulation of colour, movement and sound to their games.
.-= Claudette´s last blog ..An Epiphany and some Good Timing =-.
Nope, no botanic knowledge here either, but what a lovely, whimsical addition to a beautiful play space
.-= amandab´s last blog ..We Play – Barbie World =-.
lovely – we’ve done something similar under trees in our back yard to make little cubbies and fairy gardens but with bells and windchimes – the butterflies with rainbow ribbons are gorgeous. Reminds me of the music trees around the net. Love backyards – how do people live in units/high rises with no yard to play in?
oh just gorgeous!
.-= katepickle´s last blog ..What’s His Name =-.
Simply gorgeous! And I love the additions of the bells for the lovely sound. It’s nice when the kids choose the playspace and they help decide what to add to beautify it!
.-= Tina´s last blog ..We Play – Bubbles- =-.
Just goes to show kids don’t need expensive cubbies or toys!
.-= Janet´s last blog ..Fashion Wars =-.
Oh, how beautiful. I bet my girls would love doing this with their climbing tree (what they currently call their Sam-and-Frightful tree, being absorbed in My Side of the Mountain play). Thank you for a gorgeous idea!
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..We Play – Vegetable Art and Peace =-.
Oh it is fabulous. My Heidi would think that was the best play space in the world.
Very sweet idea. What a lovely space to sit and ponder
.-= Belinda´s last blog ..A Shoe Box Garage =-.
Is this them Cath? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauhinia
We have lovely home owners who have given us permission to fix the garden up at their expense, can’t wait til our new little grevillea flowers and we might get some rainbow lorries come and visit…
AWE! pretty!!!
What a beautiful touch to your garden
.-= Michelle´s last blog .. =-.
That is so pretty! How mesmerising for your little ones
.-= Hear Mum Roar´s last blog ..Skincare – are your money and time an indulgence or investment =-.
I think every backyard, school grounds and other children’s places need trees with low branches to hang things on. It is so nice especially for those with limited space who need to use every little bit creatively.
My next blog post this Thursday is about wooden spoons. I think you’ll see the connection…!
.-= Juliet´s last blog ..Ducks at The Coombes School =-.
So Pretty! what a great play space
.-= Philippa´s last blog ..We Play – Guess the Fruit =-.
I can’t help with the name of the tree – sorry
This is so pretty. A beautiful idea.
.-= Becky´s last blog ..Beaut Brainwave =-.
We love butterflies too! What a wonderful idea and I like that you thought to add bells for sound. I also have no idea what kind of tree you have there. Thanks for your post.
.-= joyce:waddleeahchaa.com´s last blog ..Catch and Release Adventures =-.
@Nat M
Yes, I think that is the right family of trees, but because I couldn’t see the right flower amongst them on wikipedia I wasn’t sure. That is, until I FINALLY found an image of the flower from the Red Bauhinia elsewhere! Now I’m pretty sure
I love that you call the space the butterfly house. So beautiful Cath!
.-= Amanda – Busy Brissy Mum´s last blog ..Playing Along – Wheres Our Little Friend Piglet =-.
What a gorgeous idea! I love it!!
.-= Thea´s last blog ..I Killed Kenny! =-.
What a beautiful and magical idea for children. SImple joys found in nature.
It’s so pretty. I love it!
.-= Kelly Be A Fun Mum´s last blog ..My Style 11710- Soft Side of Edgy =-.
I only wish we had such a beautiful space in our backyard. My little guy loves to build forts and such in the house amongst the chairs and couches – he would love an outdoor hiding place as well!
.-= Anne´s last blog ..For the Younger Sprouts =-.
I love this idea Cath. Have bookmarked it for a spring idea with my daughter.
Cool idea to do a butterfly tree!
Colorful, festive, and fun!
We have Monarchs that migrate up from Mexico into the United States for the Spring and Summer, along with other cool butterflies here.
Stopped by via the We Play Link ups at Childhood 101. Hope that you will pop by my blog.
Colleen
.-= Colleen – Sunrise Learning Lab´s last blog ..Kinda Wacky Wednesday! =-.
I know you say the photos do not do the butterflies justice but i think they are absolutely beautiful pics….the sun is shining through so nicely….
I love the little piece of magic you have created in your garden! Makes me think of pixie tea parties and Enid Blyton stories…
.-= Gill@OurParklife´s last blog ..Cabin Fever =-.
Thanks Gill! I grew up on Enid Blyton too…
What a beautiful idea. We’ve got a tree in our backyard with low hanging branches. I think Riley would love it if we did something similar.
.-= Zoey @ Good Goog´s last blog ..43-365 Cake- Anyone =-.
I love your butterfly tree, it reminds me of a similar “treehouse” I played in with my cousins when I was growing up. It was just down the road from our beach house and we decked it out as a complete cubby house hidden from the world thanks to the overhung branches. What a magical place, then and now.
.-= Christie – Childhood 101´s last blog ..The Universe is Made of Stories =-.