Sometimes planning a garden can seem like preparing for quite an intricate structure. There are drawings full of rows and lanes, garden streets and boulevards. Which is why this year, we made our garden markers look like street signs.
Pulled together from glue, a few sticks, bottle caps and tongue depressors (click image to enlarge)...
... they quickly took shape...
... allowing our lettuce safe passage...
... while keeping us in the right direction.
And just to mix it up a bit, a color keyed system...
... of bottle cap markers keep the rest of the garden in line.
City Planning Garden Markers:
For street signs:
Cut the round ends off of the tongue depressors with an exacto knife (this is a job for parents) or cut shapes out of soft balsa wood with scissors instead (children can do this).
Once you have your shapes glue them wooden sticks (can be scrap wood, small Popsicle sticks, bamboo skewers etc.) with wood glue.
After they are dry, paint the signs to match your favorite street signs. Since we used water based paint to make the signs, I sprayed a little clear sealer on to keep them safe from the rain.
For Bottle Cap Markers:
Paint bottle caps with your favorite colors. House paint is great for this, but you can use anything you have on hand and then just put a little sealer over it if it is water based.
Once the caps are dry glue them to wooden posts (you could use hot glue... this may not last as long but it's also easy to re-apply..., super glue or epoxy).
Using a scrap piece of wood paint circles of color to match your garden markers and write the names of the plants they represent under each circle.
Happy Gardening!
~ Sarah
P.S. Don't forget to enter our current book giveaway: A Child's Introduction to the Environment!!
*Last time in Crafts and Activities: Merry May
