Decorations

When the kids arrive, provide them with small watercolor sets and white butcher paper. Let them go out into the yard and paint pictures of the beautiful flowers, trees, or birds that they see there. After everyone has arrived and created a watercolor masterpiece, set it aside to dry.

Digging in the Dirt

The day's main event: Creating personalized pots and planting seeds or bulbs. Depending on the length of your party, you can either provide kids with pots ready for planting or have them customize their pot by painting it with their name and favorite decoration. If you're letting the kids paint their own pots, consider doing it before lunch. That way, the paint can dry while the kids eat and will be ready to go when your budding gardeners start planting.

Once you're ready to move onto the planting phase, give each child the following supplies:

• A kid-size pair of gardening gloves
• A small shovel
• Seeds
• Potting soil

The kids can use their shovels to scoop up potting soil to fill their pots and cover their seeds. The choice of seeds is up to you. It can be exciting to watch seeds bloom in the days and weeks following the party. Or, for instant gratification, buy flats of annuals like pansies or impatiens that kids can plant and enjoy right away. Once the planting is finished, help each child water his or her miniature garden.

If you have room in your yard, purchase a tree and have the kids plant it with you. Discuss the importance of trees for the environment while you plant.

If you have time after the planting, start a game of Pin-the-Wings-on-the-Butterfly. For this garden-inspired take on the classic kids' party game Pin-the-Tail-on-the-Donkey, substitute a poster of a butterfly (you or your child can draw it in advance) and give each child a paper pair of butterfly wings. Whoever gets their wings closest to the right position wins!

Other fun games to enjoy are wheelbarrow races and leap frog.

If you have multiple pairs of binoculars, do some bird watching.