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Did your parent (or grandparent) show you how to plant your first bulb? Pick a fresh bouquet of flowers? Or have an earthworm slither through your fingers for the first time? Gardening is a wonderful bonding experience between generations.
When you think the time is right to begin teaching the joy of gardening, here are a few ideas to consider.
It’s hard to beat annuals for a first gardening experience. They’ll yield lots of flowers to enjoy and are in good supply at local nurseries and garden centers. If you want to try some perennials, here are a few to consider:
Stachys, Lamb's Ear: Stachys is grown for its wonderful soft velvety foliage, which the leaf shape and texture resembles a lamb's ear. Kids love to rub the leaves between their fingers.
Platycodon, Balloon Flower: Spikes of large "balloons" inflate and then burst open to bell shaped flowers.
Physostegia, Obedient Plant: When Physostegia flower spikes are in full bloom, you can bend the stems like a pipecleaner and they will retain its new shape.