Fun Seed Packages - McKenzie Seeds

I truly get a kick out of horticultural products which appeal to kids.

I stumbled upon these today, as I was looking at seeds for my garden:

McKenzie Seed line for Kids, see their website below

Aren't they fun?! As one of my earlier posts [ "Toilet Loo Rolls" ] had mentioned, kids love to sow seeds and to watch germination happen. With these seed packages, I think they would be happy to learn more about gardening.

These graphics and cartoon like characters make simple vegetable seed packages come alive - saying sow me!  The back of each package has planting instructions that are understandable to small kids, with great sowing diagrams.

Have a look at their other selections:
McKenzie Seeds for Kids

I snatched a bunch and hope it brings smiles to my nephews and niece.

Wedding Favors (Bombonieres) For The Garden

Since I am bent horticulturally, let me offer you some gardening, or "green" ideas as favors:

White Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra spectabilis alba)
Why not get some Bleeding Heart  perennial seeds or other seeds from your favourite plants? Just collect various seeds and buy these great draw string baggies from a dollar store, like Dollar Tree (below). Add a wedding label and you'll have a very personal gift!

• Little evergreen trees:
  
  
  
  Tree seedlings  are available for planting, come with directions, Plant a memory of the couples union. 

• Seed packages: 
  
  
  
  Seed packages are blank, until your wedding info is stamped on. Filled with herbs, wild flowers, perennials....these are all lovely ideas for sowing seeds. People love them, as planting directions come on the back of the packages! 

• Flowering Bulbs:
  
  
  
  So easy to plant and you can buy bulk bulbs at your local garden centre or big box store and wrap them up just the way you want to!  Great for late summer to autumn weddings. 

• Seeded paper:
  
  
  
   Great idea, which can also be used for table seating cards, thank-you cards...etc.

• Small potted succulents:  
  
  
  
  These are great if you have succulents yourself. You just take cuttings and force them on your own. Lots of work, but so cute and cost saving!  You don't just have to do succulents. Varied mini potted plants are just as beautiful. Such as mini African Violets, Mini Roses, Mini Orchids. There are lots of plants for every taste and budget.

If there are any gardeners in your life, or those who enjoy flowers or plants, any of these favors will delight them! If there aren't, you'll soon cultivate the desire to be one!

Toilet "Loo" Rolls

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!

I trust you're brimming with excitement regarding plans for your 2012 gardening season! As I look outside, my poor little townhouse garden is being drizzled over with freezing rain. Hard to think about the garden when we have days like this. Nevertheless....

You're probably wondering about the title of this blog entry. No, I haven't gone "loo-pie" :)

Usually by the start of December and into January, I save toilet paper rolls.

Just your ordinary "loo" roll or a paper towel roll will be good too.

I use them for propagating, seed time. Fun, fun, fun! I learned this method years ago at school. There are many products out there for starting up seeds.

Whether you use seed tray kits, or those peaty pop-up disks (when you add water, they swell and look like a cylinder of peat-moss) - I find this method is cheap, easy and a great means of waste diversion.

It takes me months to save up, so depending on your household size, start saving!

Here's a sneak peak at how it's done:

First, cut them in half. Depending on the seed size you plan to sow... you can cut one roll into 3 cylinders. Tiny seeds could benefit from a smaller length. (When cut in half, they stand about 1-1/2 inches tall).

If you have several children or you want to label your propagating seeds, label the cut rolls with permanent marker so you know either which child the seedling belongs to, or what seed is germinating. Saves having to use stick labels or the like.

Then place the cut cardboard roll into your bag of seeding mix soil and pack the soil in both ends until firm.  Place on your seeding tray and you're on your way to propagating your favourite plants.

Made out of cardboard, they are ideal. They help retain water, they stay firm even when you have to pinch back and handle your tiny seedlings. Best of all, once the established seedlings need to be planted outdoors or in pots, they can be planted with the roll, completely composting away in a few weeks.

If you home-school or want a wintery weekend project at the end of January or throughout February, this is a great project for kids. They love seeding and watching the plants pop up. Give it a go!

You'll never look at a toilet loo roll the same way again!