: Gem Flower Pot :

Mother's Day is right around the corner. What better way to celebrate the love of Mom than by making her a special gift. Your little ones can help you make an inexpensive, festive gem flower pot to give Mom something to celebrate spring and gardening with.

My preschooler picked out the colors of gems and I grabbed a white pot, all from the dollar store. I applied hot glue and Jared applied them onto the pot, gem by gem. Instant drying, instant gratification. These colors actually make the pot feel very oceanic. Use any colors you like. Plant tomatos, flowers, herbs, or anything you can think of, and give Mom a beautiful sprouting plant in her new stylish pot.

: Transforming Egg Cartons Into Seed Starters :

'Tis time to start gardening! There is nothing like the gratitude children get when they plant seeds and can watch them grow into plants that can further gratify by producing tasty, colorful food. This project from Growing Up Creative is great for Earth Day. It is biodegradable, it prevents the unnecessary purchase of supplies, and it is fun for the kids.

 My 2-year-old practiced scooping soil into each nook of his egg carton, while my preschooler carefully distributed soil to his own. He chose several different seeds from which to choose, including romanesco broccoli and 6 different types of heirloom tomatoes. He planted them and covered them with more soil, and we kept track by him drawing grids of his egg carton that are now hanging just above them. Lastly, we watered each little pod and covered it with a cutout from a plastic bag. Within a week we will be seeing some progress.

: Cactus Collection :

Last week, we took a trip to our local nursery. I looked around for standard houseplants, but everything was so much more expensive than I remember it being 2 years ago. So, as we were reluctantly browsing, we came across the Cacti family. I fell in love with the succulent selections available and the decent prices. My preschooler helped decide which varieties were the most attractive and lively. Each one is unique in its own way, which is extremely intriguing to each of my boys, and to me, for that matter.

We have yet to find a thrifty treasure in which to plant these beauties. 

 

I couldn't believe these cacti when I saw them. There were about 20 of them grouped together in these 2 colors, yellow, and magenta. It was half a rainbow of psychodelic cacti. Apparently, they are grafted together. It is called a gymnocalycium mihanovichii (Hibotan).

This aeonium "catlin hybrid" was just so lovely. It reminds me of a lotus.

This one is our golden ball. It is nearly soft and furry to the touch.

This one feels so unearthy, as if I have travelled to another planet to gaze at their vegetation. This aloinopsis schoonesii seems so finger-like and porous. We love it.

In addition to touching the cacti and looking at them, Jared (my preschooler) wanted to draw a few of them in his botany journal to further the cacti experience. Who knew that cacti could be so intriguing.