- Gardening is an expression of creativity. After preparing your garden, teach your kids about sun exposure. Keep the lesson simple for younger kids, but older children can learn about zones and the different exposure needs of certain plants.
At the garden center, steer your kids towards the proper section (sun-loving annuals, for example). Then, let your kids make their own selections. Sure, their color choices might be a bit wild and they may have no regard for plant size or growing habits ... that's OK. Let them be free and creative. If some plants don't thrive, it will be part of the learning experience.
When it comes time to plant the garden, give your kids some direction about the distance between plants. Then let them go. You're likely to end up with a mismatched jumble of a garden, but look at it as a one-of-a-kind original designed by your kids. - School-age children will enjoy creating a wildlife habitat in the backyard. Not only will the garden be an attractive addition to your landscaping, it will attract all sorts of wildlife--from bugs and birds to small animals.
A wildlife habitat has several necessary components. You'll need food sources for wildlife, such as flowers that provide nectar and bird feeders. Include water sources with a bird bath or puddling areas for butterflies. Cover for wildlife is also necessary; you can include a toad house, thick native vegetation or a bird house. Also provide a place for wildlife to bear their young; your bird and toad houses will serve double-duty for this, but plants that butterflies like to lay eggs on are another good addition.
Once your wildlife habitat is complete, you can certify it with the National Wildlife Federation. Keep in mind that wildlife habitats must be completely organic to be certified. - A butterfly garden will provide hours of joy throughout the summer. Choose a sunny location for your garden; one that gets at least five to six hours of sun each day. It's also necessary for the garden to be sheltered from the wind.
Your garden must contain two types of plants--host plants for the caterpillars and nectar plants for the adult butterflies to feed on. Different species have different plant preferences. Your best bet is to ask a local garden center for native plant recommendations that attract butterflies.
Butterflies also need a place to warm up, so include some flat stones for them to land on. You'll also need to provide a water source; a small section of dirt that you keep damp will suffice, or you can fill a small bucket with sand and keep that moist. Add a butterfly feeder as an extra food source.
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