And don't forget snapdragons, Antirrhinum majus , a flower children have loved for generations. It is fun to pinch the blossoms gently to make the dragon's mouth open. Snapdragons come in many colors and sizes. Two easy and appealing perennial plants might fit your space and tickle your child's fancy. Lamb's ear, Stachys byzantina , with its fuzzy succulent leaves and silvery green color is a nice edging plant for a flower garden or path.
Children love touching and stroking it because it really does feel like a lamb s ear.
It will come back next year, a source of pride and enjoyment for the young gardener. Hens and chicks, Sempervivum tectorum , is a succulent plant that spreads by producing offsets that look like miniatures of the mother plant. It is hardy, doesn t require much water, and will grow to fill in nooks and crannies in almost any sunny part of a garden. These plants appeal to the kid in any of us. Let new gardeners start with fun and easy plants and let curiosity and wonder about growing things naturally take root.