The Flowerbed

• One way to give your child an understanding of beauty in nature is to plant a flower bed with them. Flowerbeds, unlike trees and other green plants, mature and bloom in a matter of months instead of years. Annuals, biennials and perennials can all be planted together in the same patch to show the different life cycles of plants. Species such as zinnias, twinspur and sage grow easily from seeds, and some species of flowers require sunlight to germinate and are sewn on a flowerbed without digging. Allow your child to dig, sow and water the flowerbed with enough supervision to ensure that some flowers will bloom.
  
  

Butterflies and Hummingbirds

• Of course, plants are only one aspect of life. Planting certain shrubs, such as butterfly bush or firebird, attracts both butterflies and hummingbirds and is a safe way to teach children about the partnerships made by different animals throughout the natural world. These types of bushes have physical adaptations that not only attract specialized insects and birds, but also protect their nectar from other animals. Additionally, indicate how these plants use the animals that feed on their nectar to promote pollination between flowers. These flowering shrubs and their visitors are a valuable tool in explaining the interdependency of the ecosystem.
  
  

Mini-Farm

• Flowers and butterflies may be beautiful and even educational, but they don't help at the dinner table. Growing fresh vegetables gives children not only a greater understanding of where their food comes from before it reaches the plate, but often a greater interest in trying the foods that they have watched grow from seedling to tomato or pea pod. Choose vegetables that are colorful and fast growing, like tomatoes, peas and radishes, to increase the visual appeal.
  
  

Venus Fly Trap

• If outdoor gardening is not an option where you live, caring for a Venus flytrap is another way to provide your child with a lesson on the connectivity of life. This plant requires sunlight and water like most plants, but also supplements its diet with living flies. Venus flytraps are best kept by older children, since they have sharp spines around their traps.