Johnsons's Garden Centers Text File document - copyright 2002
PDF file available at http://www.johnsonsgarden.com/newsletter/kidsgardening.html

Gardening with Kids
October 2002
Jan Decker, Junior Gardeners' Club Coordinator

    There are still many gardening activities this time of year that
most kids can help with. Closing the garden, preparing for frost,
tidying up, cleaning and storing tools and pots are areas that can offer
valuable lessons.

    If bulb planting isn't a fall ritual at your house, give it a try.
Tulips, daffodils and other flower bulbs are among the easiest plants
for kids to grow successfully. Bulbs are already living plants so just
putting them in the ground in the fall will pretty much guarantee spring
flowers. If you feel inclined to expand the educational aspect, slice a
bulb open and show your child the "baby flower" in the middle, just
waiting to be "born" in the spring.

    When planting bulbs you can go for a formal look by laying out a
design or the natural look. Kids have fun with "naturalizing" because
they can just toss a handful of bulbs into the air in the designated
area and dig a hole wherever they land. Bulbs can even be planted in the
lawn and they'll grow through the grass. Which ever method you use,
you're sure to be blessed by a splendid color display in the spring. You
won't find a better selection of Dutch bulbs anywhere like the ones
you'll find at Johnson's.

    Reminder--Junior Gardeners' Club Pumpkin Growing Contest ends 
October 20.