Gardening is a process, and as in every process, there will be periods of downtime. We don’t want our young gardens to get bored, so let’s get to gardening with a fun project. Whether you have sown your seeds in the ground, in pots, or in a seed tray, you’re now waiting for things to happen, right. So what do we do now?

There are a lot of fun projects to do while you’re waiting. Everything you plant has a name. How are you going to keep everything straight in your little garden? Today, let’s talk about making plant markers to personalize and decorate your garden space.

A simple project is to make colorful plant markers using rocks or old scraps wood. Kids of all ages can do this project with parental engagement.

The first order of business is to find some flat rocks (because they’re easier to paint and to write on). Pick out one rock for each type of veggie or flower that you want to mark. If you can’t access rocks, you can also use pieces of wood, or whatever else your imagination leads you to find to make your markers (sizes 4 – 6 inches minimum). Not only will these remind you of what you have planted and where, but they also make great decor for your garden. You can get creative and make honey bees or ladybugs–anything that will look cute and be fun to have in your garden pots or plots.

Next, you need a can of spray paint. Choose a medium to light color that you love. Then, pick out four or five small bottles of acrylic paint that you can purchase at craft stores, and get three paint brushes (one that is medium brush tip, small and one that is tiny).

Clean the surface you’re planning to paint, and let it dry completely. Then, ask a grown-up to help you spray paint your rock or piece of wood. It’s good to do this outside on a piece of cardboard and let them dry in the sun (till they’re not sticky anymore).

Make sure you have on your old work clothes and lay down some newspaper on your work surface. While the spray paint is drying, decide what plants you’ll be marking. Get your paints and brushes on your work surface. Also get a plate or old pie tin and two short glasses of water (just half full). We’re going to do a “trial run” on paper, first, THEN we’ll put the real design on the marker itself. Get out some paper and make a circle or square the size of your rock or boar. Use a ruler or some straight edge and draw two parallel lines with a pencil. These lines need to be 1 inch apart across the center of the paper. With your pencil write out the veggie or flower name across the center within your lines (i.e., BEANS, CARROTS, ZINNIAS).

What color will your letters be? Let’s say red. Put a quarter sized blob of red paint on the plate. Dip the tip of your smallest brush in the paint and paint over the letters one by one. It’s ok if you need mom or big brother to go hand over hand with you for this part. Wow! That is going to look so cool on your rock!

Now around the edge, get a different color and make some dots about an inch and a half apart on the edges of the paper. Stay about an inch away from your letters, then add a few larger dots in another color. Then, if you have room, with another color make some tiny dots as well. Avoid getting too close to your letters. Now that you’ve done this on paper; you can paint your rock with confidence. (Save this paper when you’re all done, you can hang it up if you want).

Alright, now we’re ready to do the real deal. Get your rock and get ready to put on the letters. Again, you will use your ruler and pencil to make two parallel lines but this time, on your rock. Pencil the name in block letters and go over it with your paint. Add your colorful polka dots on your rock just like you did on the paper.

Now, let your project dry in the sun or someplace safe. Don’t forget to help with the clean up! Gardeners always want to keep things neat. Wash your brushes right away so you can use them again and again, just as we do with our garden tools, again and again.

Your finished plant marker will last a long time. I have some that are 5 plus years old. Whether it be a flat rock or a piece of board painted with polka dots or ladybugs, it’s more fun to have in the garden. Have fun and share the joy of gardening!