Mindful Art: Building Floral Mandala from Nature Palette
One evening, I took my daughter out to the backyard to show her something unexpected and exciting. That afternoon, while picking lemons for my next batch of bio enzyme, I stumbled upon a small honeycomb nestled on the branch of our lemon tree. I couldn’t wait to share it with her—after all, how often do we get to see these tiny pollinators up close in our kitchen garden?
As we admired the little honeybees busily working around the beehive, I took the chance to talk about their role in pollination. I told her they’re not just visitors, but almost like the owners of our garden, working silently to help our plants grow fruits and flowers.
From Flowers to a Nature Mandala
After observing the beehive, my daughter’s eyes wandered to the flowers scattered across the garden. She immediately began picking the colorful ones that caught her attention.
She began picking them—yellows, pinks, blues, and even a peachy-sandal hue.
I joined her, and soon we had a handful of vibrant flowers in our palms.
That’s when I remembered her earlier attempt at nature mandala art, where she had arranged flowers and leaves in a beautiful circular pattern using just one type of flower. This time, I suggested we go one step further and use all the different flowers we had just picked to make a multicolored nature mandala.
The Joy of Collecting Nature’s Palette
To make the mandala more interesting, we went on another mini-hunt to find leaves with curved bases and sharp edges — anything that would add character to the design. I let her take the lead, eager to see her creativity and waited to see what her little hands would come up with.
I didn’t give her any rules and just wanted to see how her little creative mind would work with the materials in hand.
Once we gathered enough materials, she began by spreading a layer of soft soil, using it as the base to anchor the flowers.
She carefully “plugged” the flower stalks into the sand, creating a stable structure. She placed a tiny buttercup-like flower, with a yellow and white combination, right at the center.
Around it, she arranged the blue flowers, followed by pink, then the peach-colored (sandal hue) blossoms. Finally, she framed the entire piece with a ring of green leaves.
It was beautiful. A real flower mandala shaped from nature, thought, and joy.
She stood back, proud of her little masterpiece — a nature mandala art made entirely from what the garden offered us.
When Wind Plays Along
Just when she was admiring her finished nature mandala art, an unexpected guest arrived—the wind. It gently blew, and unfortunately, the leaves couldn’t hold on. Seeing her disappointment, I suggested we could place small stones over the leaves to keep them from flying away. But she had a better idea. Her eyes scanned the backyard and landed on a small unused clay Diya lamp lying nearby. She picked it up and gently placed it over the outer layer of leaves.
The Diya added a unique charm to the mandala, transforming a small mishap into an even more creative outcome.
It not only secured them but added an earthy design element to the mandala.
Her face lit up with pride and excitement. It wasn’t just a simple craft anymore; it became her own little piece of art born out of play, observation, and problem-solving. No store-bought toy could bring out this level of imagination and joy.
Puzzle Box 📦
Ask your child to guess which flower attracts bees the most?
(Give them Hint: Bees love flowers that are in bright blue hues)
Check answers at the end of this post!
Why You Should Try Nature Mandala Art with Kids
This entire activity didn’t need any fancy toys or tools—just flowers, leaves, soil, and a curious mind. The joy she experienced in creating something of her own using elements from nature is unmatched. As parents, we often search for creative activities for kids, but sometimes, all they need is a little freedom outdoors.
What Kids Learn Through Nature Mandala Art:
- Creativity and Artistic Expression
- Observation Skills
- Fine Motor Skills
- Problem-Solving
- Mindfulness
- Focus and Patience
- Emotional connection with nature
More Nature-Inspired Activity Ideas
If your child enjoyed creating a nature mandala art, here are a few more simple yet delightful activities you can try together:
Know More: Nature-Inspired Activities Archive
Inspire Us
So, next time you’re out for a stroll or working in your garden, I encourage you to pause and explore nature’s little treasures with your kids. You’ll be surprised at how much joy lies in these simple moments.
Try it this weekend. You might just find your child creating a masterpiece in the middle of your backyard.
Poll for Parents
Puzzle Key
The flower that attracts bees the most is Lavender.
Other top bee magnets:
- Sunflowers – Big and bold, bees love landing on them.
- Bee Balm – Their name says it all!
- Borage – Bees come back again and again.
- Clover – A classic nectar treat in fields and lawns.
Fun fact: Bees see purple and blue more vividly than humans—that’s why lavender is their top pick!