Annuals are perfect plants for a child’s garden. They grow lickety-split, scaling their life cycles to the expectations of those who prefer immediate results. Their minimal maintenance schedules are well-suited to short attention spans, and they bloom for a goodly portion of what a small gardener would consider a lifetime.
Gardening is an involving game for children of all ages, filled with diminutive tools, bright colors, mysterious plants and tasks that intrigue and entice…and get messy.
Photo Credit: Jenny Hooks
Since annuals come in an array of shapes and sizes, any child is bound to find certain ones fascinating. Some annuals creep along at ground level, where they can be examined easily by the short of stature, and some attain unimaginable heights, exceeding even that of the average dad. You can make a game of predicting each plant’s destiny: Which will grow bigger, a sunflower seed or a pansy transplant? Your garden will become such an interesting place that children will return to it daily, all the while learning life lessons – how plants begin, grow and die; how all living things are dependent upon one another; what it means to be responsible for providing life-sustaining care.
When you’re deciding what to put in the garden, favor annuals that are easy to plant, fast growing and easy to nurture. Big seeds are simplest for small hands to handle – even preschoolers can sow sunflowers. Older children (and younger ones with your help) may enjoy planting started annuals in the garden, but they’ll still need guidance from you (especially when it comes to removing plants from their containers).
A riot of color may be the outcome, and children probably will find it the epitome of good taste no matter how gaudy. Plenty of easygoing annuals bloom in eye-popping colors that kids will love. You can be sure that tiny gardeners will want to sniff every flower they see, so add at least a few fragrant annuals to the mix, and include some durable, touchable ones.
