J: Kid Approved Plants

This is the top 20 list of plants that are great to grow with kids!

1. Pumpkins - lots of different sizes, shapes and colors. Great for carving and painting.
2. Sunflowers - nothing like the giant sunflower! Great for building a growing sunflower house, creating bird feeders, seasonal decorations, and beautiful flower arrangements.
3. Gourds - "mother nature's all-pupose plants. From birdhouses to bath sponges, drums to dolls, a garden draped in gourds can supply children with endless hours of fun and discovery".
4. Corn - kids love the idea of growing their oen popcorn.
5. Berries - can be easy for kids to plant and grow in small gardens and pots; who wouldn't want an instant berry snack in their backyard as a kid?
6. Hollyhocks - can be made into beautiful fence rows or circular tepee hideouts; provide great natural materials for projects and LOTS of nectar for birds and insects.
7. Carrots - buried treasure! Can't go wrong with that.
8. Mimosa - fascinates children by the way it moves quickly in response to their touch.
9. Poppies - big beautiful, colorful flowers; children can watch them open in the morning.
10. Tomatoes - so many colors, sizes, flavors! Easy in containers or pots. Kids can get use to having a season long supply of harvesting and snacking.
11. Trees - plant a "birthday tree" and measure both the tree and the child every year with a birthday photo. Plant trees like willows or cedars or elms that can quickly provide great hideouts underneath their branches. Or a "Harry Lauder's walking stick" can be grown in a container and is so uniquely twisty and interesting kids won't be able to stay away.
12. Alliums - easy to grow with a wide variety of beautiful blooms. Good for use in creating bouquets or to dry for craft projects later.
13. Potatoes - more buried treasure! With many more varieties and colors than kids are aware of this can provide an endless supply of digging fun.
14. Woolly Lamb's Ear - intrigues children with it's wonderfully soft leaves. Leaves make great additions to fairy houses or other outdoor imaginary play.
15. Four-O'Clocks - multi-colored flowers that punctually open up every day at 4:00pm. A great evening ritual to do with your children!
16. Evening Primroses - another evening bloomer that unfurls from the sepals just after the sun sets. A great process for children to watch.
17. Radishes - so fast sprouting that they have gotten the nickname "springers". A great one to plant to keep children interested in the garden while they wait for other plants to sprout.
18. Nasturtium - virtually fool-proof seeds will bring vibrant color to your garden. Easy to plant in small containers or hanging pots. Flowers and leaves are edible.
19. Moon Plant (silver dollars, fairy pennies) - self-sows and can be grown in shady areas; lots of creative play and crafting possible with the unique parts of this plant.
20. Lemon Verbena - leaves can be nibbled and the smell of the plant will keep you hooked. Rubbing fresh leaves on skin can deter mosquitoes and other insects.

This list was taken from the AMAZING book "Roots, Shoots, Buckets and Boots" by Sharon Lovejoy.

Is there a plant that you would recommend or think is missing from this list? Be sure to comment and let me know.