She's touching "history"...

...Alice marvels at the small, pretty objects inside the white picket fence; she tries to name them and the colors she sees. The adults coach, encourage and smile. She does not now understand that the fence is a treasured family heirloom, made by her deceased great-grandfather when he was a boy--perhaps 85 years ago. The little fence was made by him as a gift for his own grandfather; maybe to demonstrate his developing carpenter skills (he was a professional carpenter, as it turned out.) So, the fence was first owned by Alice's ancestor, born likely in the mid-1800's; it returned to it's maker to be passed down to his daughter (our Gardener), spruced up by her Hubsy and placed here for the innocent delight of the little child. (Oh, and us.) American family traditions; one of the many reasons to have a Great Independence Day!