Today I took the boys to a local greenhouse and nursery. I told them they each could pick out a plant to take care of this summer. They were actually excited about the chance to pick out a plant of their own. Around our neighborhood we are just seeing signs of spring. We have a few crab apple trees blooming, and the trees are leafing out. At the greenhouse though – wow – everything was green, and growing, and blooming, and a rainbow of beautiful colors. We browsed through ten different kinds of tomatoes, many herbs and vegetables, and all sorts of flowers. We talked about the difference between annuals and perennials. The thought of plants that come back every year really appealed to the boys. They took a lot of time picking out their plants.
We came home with lots more than one plant apiece. We got cherry tomatoes, yellow pear tomatoes, cucumber and zucchini vines, hot peppers, bell peppers, peppermint, and geraniums for the patio, and a few drought tolerant flowers for the front yard. It was really hard to turn down green and flowering things after our long winter. We spent a hour or so planting in the yard and in a few pots on our patio.
The average lost frost for our part of the country is May 15th, so we will have to keep an eye on the weather. We might have to bring some patio plants inside and protect the outdoor ones. I loved how excited the boys were to have their own plants. It will be fun to have a few of our own vegetables and herbs growing in our own yard. Having these new plants makes it feel like we are already starting our summer.
Also See:
Gardening Wizardry for Kids – L. Patricia Kite
10 Tips For The Beginner Gardener