A project for even the smallest of hands – this caterpillar seed planter requires minimal effort or expertise and is sure to create lots of fun in the garden. You will need just a small amount of goodies to get this project started and the kids will love the final result.
Place your friendly-looking caterpillar somewhere in the garden or on the verandah and watch as the seeds start to sprout through, creating a ‘hairy’ effect. Make sure to water your furry little friend every couple of days so he can grow beautifully.
Let’s get crawling with the activity …
What you will need to get started:
- A pair of old pantyhose (any colour will do)
- Scissors
- Potting mix
- An old bowl/tub
- Small spade
- Wheatgrass seed mix
- 5 or 6 x pipe cleaners in different colours
- Plastic eyes
- Glue (fabric glue will work best)
Steps of the activity:
- Pour some potting mix into a bowl (enough to fill the panytyhose once the sections have been tied off with the pipe cleaners).
- Using the small spade, mix the seeds into the soil.
- Holding open the pantyhose, spoon the mix into the pantyhose, leaving enough space to tie it on the other end.
- Leave the open end untied and then divide the caterpillar into little sections (all similar in size).
- Tie a different coloured pipe cleaner around each little section and at the last section, make a knot and cut the extra fabric off the end to make a small nose.
- Create the antenna by pushing a pipe cleaner through one side of the pantyhose, guiding it through slightly and then out the other side – then bend the pipe cleaners into the shape you want.
- Place a little bit of glue on each of the eyes and stick these onto the caterpillar’s face above the nose.
- Using a biggish container half-filled with water, soak the caterpillar in the water for 10 minutes.
- Take the caterpillar out of the water after 10 minutes of soaking and place it somewhere in the garden to display it.
- Water your caterpillar every second day.
For more information on bringing Life to your Garden, visit our website www.lifeisagarden.co.za or join the conversation on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/lifeisagardensa.
