The safe heart of Tootie's Backyard — fenced, familiar, and full of the sweet smell of pink azaleas.
Inside the cyclone fence, the grass is soft, the azaleas bloom pink every spring, and Tootie and Yoshi can run as fast as they want without a care.
The Chief Scrappy Officer herself! The Fenced Sanctuary is Tootie's personal headquarters.
ResidentThe elegant Hobby Investigator. Yoshi does a slow, dignified lap each morning, nose to the ground.
ResidentAfter every rain, earthworms come up through the grass. They're doing important work — aerating the soil.
ResidentHoneybees visit the azalea blooms in spring, crossing from the Fence Row into the Sanctuary.
SeasonalGee occasionally suns himself on the warm concrete path inside the fence.
Frequent VisitorThe landmark of the Fenced Sanctuary — they bloom every spring in an explosion of pink. They've been here longer than the fence.
Soft, tough, and perfect for running. Tootie and Yoshi have worn a patrol path around the perimeter.
Small clover patches providing food for bees and a soft landing spot for birds who hop through the fence.
A big oak at the back corner that keeps a whole section of the yard cool all day. Where Tootie goes to think.
Pull up a chair, sugar. Let me tell you about this place.
Some children think the Fenced Sanctuary is the least exciting part of the backyard because it's the most familiar. Those children haven't been paying attention. Tootie has found seventeen different kinds of beetles in this grass.
The pink azaleas are older than I am. My mother planted them, and her mother planted the ones before those. Every spring when they bloom, Tootie runs figure eights around them like she's greeting old friends. Animals remember the things that always smell the same.
Safe doesn't mean boring. It means you have the space to look close — and close is where all the best things are hiding.
Lie down in the grass and look at it from bug level. What can you see that you couldn't see standing up?
Start Activity →Walk slowly and stop every few steps to sniff. What smells change as you move?
Start Activity →Count earthworms in a 3-foot square area after rain. More in sunny or shady spots? Why?
Start Activity →The backyard is full of neighbors waiting to meet you. Where will your Owl Eyes take you next?