Sow Seeds
Believe it or not, it’s not too late to start plants from seed! Some blooms, like sunflowers, thrive as the summer heats up. To plant your own, nestle seeds at least 6” apart. Aim for a spot in your yard that’s sunny, but somewhat protected from the wind. (Try lining them along a fence.) Your daughter will love to watch them grow all summer long. Try keeping tabs on their height by measuring the stalks every week or so.
String Up a Garland
Seed packets are full of useful info about watering instructions and more, so don’t toss ‘em after you’ve planted the contents. Instead, repurpose them into a cheerful garland to hang in a window. Companies such as the Hudson Valley Seed Library and the Chas. C. Hart Seed Co. stash their seeds in pretty packets that practically beg to be displayed. Enlist your daughter’s help to hang the packets from a piece of twine using clothespins. (For an extra pop of color, cover the front of pins with a piece of washi tape, or decorate with a paint pen.) You can enjoy the painted blooms all season long. Plus — major bonus — you can consult the packets any time you need some tips for perking up your plants.
Craft Plant Markers
Keep track of your growing crop by making some simple plant markers. Head to the hardware store to pick up paint stirrers, and transform them into pretty and practical garden ornaments. Use stamps and waterproof ink to emblazon the stirrers with the type of plant. (Hint: To simplify the stamping process, use a piece of masking tape to connect all of the individual letters to form a single word. So much easier than trying to line up each letter!) Stick the markers into containers or directly into garden beds.
Arrange Flowers
Bring the outdoors in by snipping blooms to bring inside. You’ll have a blast making little bouquets together. Dress up a plain glass vase with some colorful ribbon, and then place the cut blossoms inside. Teach your daughter some simple tricks to extend the blooms’ lifespan, like cutting ‘em at an angle and using a needle to poke holes in the stems of top-heavy flowers.
Whatever the two of you plant, it will be a treat to gaze out the window all summer and see the fruits (or blooms) of your labor!
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