If you're making a sandbox, I would reccommend using cross ties or similar for the outside edge, and "paving" underneath it with bricks or tiles or whatever you have on hand. My dad did that for our second sandbox, and it really kept the sand much cleaner and kept most of it in the box. The crossties also made a nice foundation for my "treehouse" which was really a house on stilts, and not actually in a tree, but it is still great after 15 years and has stood through two hurricanes when houses nearby did not.

oh, and as for plants, I would suggest berries :) everyone loves them, especially the bears.

-sara :)

When you said leopard spotted type flowers and black mulch, all I could envision was an outline of a giant leopard covered in black plastic with x's where the flowers pop through the plastic.

I guess you didn't have animal shapes in mind for the flower bed--but maybe it would work.

A little garden pond surrounded by all those flowers would be cool. You wouldnt need much just something small with a fountain would really peek their interest. A couple of frogs or a gold fish would make their day. Get one of those alligator statues next to it. You just gave me a great idea.

GloryBee,
I would love to hear how your project came out! What types of animals (and decor) did you use? Where they all plants, animals painted on the walls or do they "roam" the garden? What types of playground equipment where you able to incorporate? It really sounds wonderful and I think you may have inspired me on to my next project. Thanks!

Don't forget the plants with animal names. We're considering a zoo garden. Here's the compiled list so far after searching for previous threads on this subject, all may not be easy to grow or sutable for kids, but there are some good ones on here.
Dandelions
Rattlesnake bean
Rat Tail Radish
Lion's Ear (herb)
Tigger Melon
tiger lily
hens and chicks,
lambs ears,
colts foot
gooseneck loosestrife
worm wood
cardinal flower
Bee Balm
Snap dragon
OX-eye Daisy
TOAD Lily
SNAKE Root
OSTRICH Fern
BUTTERFLY Bush
Chelone 'Pink TURTLEhead'
LEOPARD'S Bane
FOXglove
CATtails
CATnip
CATmint
BUTTERFLY weed
SPIDER lily
BEAR's breeches
SHRIMP plant
catch-FLY
BURRO tail sedum
CRANEsbill geranium
teddyBEAR sunflower
Zebra Grass
MOUSE-ear coreopsis
DOGtooth violet.
RATTLESNAKE master.
HAWKweed
SNAKEhead fritillaria
SQUIRL corn
BUNNY tail grass
COLTS foot
PUSSY toes
GOATS beard
MOSQUETO plant
HENNY penny
TROUT lily
calendula PORKYPINE
CAT grass
horeHOUND
PARTRIDGE pea
raggid ROBIN
shoFLYl
SPIDER flower
TICKseed
Cow Slobber (Tradescantia) is my all time favorite common name.
dogwood
Thanks for getting the hard scape suggestions started. I'd appreciate hearing about any of the animal decore ideas that come up on this thread in case I can't find it again.
Hope this helps,
Catrina