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Space Alien Garden, Themes for Kids Gardens Series

© Linda Mazar

Having a 10-year-old boy makes my life fun and interesting. Lately he has been taking a class through Mad Science on rockets, space, and robots. He loved it! So now he is very interested in outer space and that was the inspiration for this Space Alien theme garden.

It seems that a Space Alien garden should be full of the strangest looking plants one can find. My friends and I had great fun coming up with ideas for plants and accessories. I hope you will enjoy it!

Plants - Strange plants must be the main focus in a space alien garden. It's a good thing that there are so many around to choose from! First decided if you want to grow annuals, perennials, or a combination of both. Prepare your soil and you will be ready for fun!

For annual plants, consider the following: Zinnia Envy" (green flower from Burpee), Zinnia "Bright Jewels" (spidery petals), (spiky petals from Harris Seeds), Sunflower "Yellow Disc" and "Moonbright" (Pinetree Seeds), Morning Glory "Flying Saucers" (Pinetree Seeds), Cleome (or Spider flower), Spiderwort, Snapdragons, Dusty Miller "Silver Lace", Silver Dollar Plant, Moonflower, Bell Peppers "White Perfection", Pumpkins "Lumina" (white pumpkins), Kohlrabi (interesting looking), Gourds (especially ones with necks or strange shapes), Okra, Brussel Sprouts (very strange looking habit), Chinese Lanterns, and Garlic.

For perennial plants, consider the following: Rudbeckia "Green Wizard" (no petals - is really interesting looking), Alliums, Plume Poppy, Artemsia (for the silver color), Lamb's ear (also silver), yucca (spikey), Sea Holly, Globe Thistle, Cone flowers (for shape or "coneheads"), Chives, Asparagus, Elephant Ears, Siberian Iris, Solomon Seal, Cannas, Poppies (cool seed heads), Astilbe, Goat's Beard (Aruncus), Monarda, Cosmos, Coreopsis Zanfir (strange petals - Burpee), Dianthus "Pink Lace", Spider Mums, Cardoon (interesting shape), zebra grass, Calla lilies, Dame's Rocket, and Gunnera.

Those flowers should get some "looks" from the neighbors and passers by! To further define the theme of Space Alien gardens, you may need a few accessories.

Garden Accessories - Those extra little touches that proclaim the theme "space aliens" are needed to make it more interesting and fun. They should also proclaim your theme to the unenlightened. What will you add?

A space Alien scarecrow might be a good place to start. Use your imagination and create! Maybe he would have just one big eye or lots of eyes. What do you think an alien should look like? How many arms or legs? What will the head be? What kind of clothes? You could even spray paint the whole scarecrow silver, green, or another color once it is built. Have fun creating!

The copyright of the article Space Alien Garden, Themes for Kids Gardens Series in Gardening with Children is owned by Linda Mazar. Permission to republish Space Alien Garden, Themes for Kids Gardens Series in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.