I want to have a simple flower garden for my dd.

[lynn]

Besides sunflower what is a no good flower we can grow? Any suggestions on a lay out it can be as big or small as we want it.

[gardenschooler]

What part of the country do you live in? Do you want something now, for early spring, or for later in the summer?

[lynn]

We livein N Alabama and actually yes to both, something rotational if that makes sense. I read an article a looooong time ago regarding layering bulbs and having color from spring to fall but can't seem to google it. I want sunflowers and hollyhocks but not sure if they can grow together or what to put in front. Sorry if this is confusion my vision may not match reality....:rolleyes:

[gardenschooler]

Oh, now you're getting complicated! Just kidding, but keeping color for every season is tricky, even in the south. I don't do a whole lot of bulbs because they get eaten by varmints.

For cooler weather (like now), you could do sweet peas (the flower), or Oriental poppies. Nasturtiums http://gardening.about.com/od/plantprofiles/p/Nasturtium.htm
are super easy to grow for kids, and are edible! All of those will come up from seed and bloom early. Soak the nasturtium seeds overnight to soften them up.

For summer, an easy kids' garden is just a butterfly garden of cosmos, zinnias, marigolds, petunias, and the like. Zinnias are especially nice because you can get a variety of colors and sizes, and you can have fun collecting the seeds for next year!

Have fun!

[Paula in MS]

If you want to plant from seed, I would recommend marigolds and zinnias. There are several varieties of dwarf zinnia available now that you could put in pots or in the front of a bed. Make sure you allow dd to collect the seed heads in the fall to replant in the spring. (My dd6 has this obsession with collecting crape myrtle seeds. What am I going to do with hundreds of crape myrtles?) Leaf lettuce is a good idea this time of year in the south. My dd likes to plant it in pots and pick it for a salad.

Good luck with your gardening

Paula