At Florida's Natural, we know all about the joy that comes from watching things grow. Try these two funs and inexpensive ways you and your family can tap into Mother Nature by creating a colorful garden that'll bring pleasure year-round.

Plant seeds of interest.

To turn your kids on to gardening, all you need is a pack of seeds, potting soil, and an empty Florida's Natural® Brand juice carton. Rinse out the carton and cut off one of the long sides. Punch a few holes in the new “planter” bottom for drainage, and fill it within an inch of the top with fine potting soil or seed-starting mix (available at a gardening center, nursery, or hardware store). Moisten the soil—it should be as wet as a wrung-out sponge, never soggy—and plant seeds according to package directions. Set the planted carton in a plastic tray to catch excess water. Grow in a bright window, under an aquarium light, or outdoors (in warm weather), watering as needed, until your seedlings are big enough to transplant into your garden or larger containers.

Enjoy herbs indoors.

Love fresh herb flavor but hate fresh herb prices? Grow your own! You can grow herbs like rosemary and chives in large containers outdoors while the weather’s mild, then bring them into a bright, cool room (an unheated porch or mudroom, or even a garage with windows, if it doesn’t freeze) for the cold months. Put the containers where they’ll get the most light, and water them when the soil is almost dry to the touch. To harvest rosemary, just snip off the tips of a branch or two. But don’t try this with your chives. Rather than cutting off chives at the top, cut what you need at the base of the plant, leaving the rest intact.

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