A C T IV IT IE S
family matters
F l o w e r
C h i l d r e n
H e lp y o u r o w n lit t le
b lo s s o m s d e v e lo p
a lo v e o f g a rd e n in g
w ith t h e s e k id -
f r ie n d ly p la n t s .
BY LORI NUDO
ЯШЯ
S
pring may still be an
uncertain affair in your
region. But don’t wait for
perfect weather to start
nurturing in your
children a love of things that grow.
If you still have frost on the ground,
plant an inside starter garden—and
begin to teach your kids that the
only thing truly better than stopping
to smell the flowers is stopping to
smell the flowers that they’ve
planted themselves.
To help you do that, we’ve
gathered this collection of flowers
that are easy for children to grow
and that hold special delights for
young gardeners. They will also
augment the plants in your existing
garden beautifully.
If you live in the South, sow these
flowers directly into your garden. If
you live in the North, it’s best to give
them a head start indoors. Move the
seedlings outdoors after the last
expected frost date for your region.
FASTSPROUTERS
ZINNIAS, MARIGOLDS,
COSMOS, AND
NASTURTIUM
TYPE Annuals
HEIGHT From about 6
inches tall (dwarf marigolds) to
about
3
feet tall (taller zinnias)
LIGHT Full sun, except nasturtium,
which will take part shade.
WHAT KIDS LOVE Kids like to see fast
results, and these super sprouters
come to life in as few as three days.
WHAT TO GROW Plant chocolate
cosmos
(Cosmos atrosanguineus)
for
a whiff of sweet dark chocolate late
in the day. Or plant ‘Whirlybird’
series nasturtium for jewel-color
blooms that rise above their foliage,
making them easy for kids to pick.
FOR FUN Decorate salads and cakes
with nasturtium flowers. Not only
are they beautiful, but both the
leaves and flowers are edible. They
have a spicy, peppery taste and are
high in vitamin C. If you’d like to
have a taste test, just make sure you
don’t use pesticides or chemical
fertilizers on or near your plants.
CLASSIC CROWD
PLEASER
SUNFLOWER
(HELIANTHUS)
TYPE Annual
HEIGHT From
2
to a
monumental 12 feet tall
LIGHT Full sun
WHAT KIDS LOVE This is a plant that
can outgrow them in a single
summer—and they love standing next
to them each day to compare heights.
WHAT TO GROW Forget what you
think you know about this classic
summer flower. Sunflowers now
come in all sizes and colors. You
can grow short sunflowers, such
224 APRIL2009 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
PHOTO: JUIPTER IMAGES
