Way to Grow!

On Thursday the kids' weekly gardening class was titled "Way to Grow!" and focused on planting.  The kids entered the garden almost immediately to work on planting four different plants: zucchini, cantaloupe, lettuce  and a mystery plant.  Ms. Lisa gave everyone a number from 1 to 4 to divide them up into groups to plant one type of plant each.  Of course my boys were in different groups so I was running back and forth between them.

We checked on the plants that had been planted a few weeks ago as we entered the garden.  The tomatoes looked about the same.  Carter and Rylan's plants are in the bottom right corner and center of the picture.

The potatoes had suddenly taken off!  I don't think anything had broken out of the ground the week before.

Carter's group had the zucchini.  There were probably about 40 of each type of plant to get in the ground and because less kids had shown up last week, everyone got to plant 5 or 6 plants each.

Carter did the planting almost 100% on his own.  I did a little patting down of the ground where Carter had planted for a few plants, but then he started copying what I was doing and didn't need any help anymore.

Rylan's group had the mystery plant.  I have no idea what it is.  He needed a little more help than Carter but I was surprised how much he could do on his own.

Rylan pointing out one of the plants he planted for me ...

Once all the plants were in the ground, the kids got to water them.  This was the best part to Carter.  He took control of his groups' watering!

Rylan joined in with his group and was content with this ...

Thank goodness I had gotten the boys boots because everyone's shoes were caked with mud.

At the end of class, the kids got to see whose marigolds had grown the most.  The kids planted seeds the first week of class and took them home.  I've been pretty much taking care of the plants (which means I water them and I did add Miracle Grow once) but the boys do check on them everyday since they sit on the window sill in the family room.

I thought that both boys plants had been doing pretty well but didn't think they had a chance of being the tallest.

I was wrong.  They both won!  Ms. Lisa couldn't decide whose was the tallest and it ended up being a three-way tie between Rylan, Carter, and another young boy.  Ms. Lisa disappeared for a few minutes in her car (she told us she hadn't expected three winners).  She returned with $2 for each kid (a bill and 4 quarters).

My boys were so happy!

We took the marigold plants back home to continue to grow them.  At some point the kids will plant them around the garden.