Are you looking for a fun garden activity for kids? In honor of National Honey Bee Day, help our beneficial pollinators and make Seed Balls! Seed Balls are made from natural ingredients and can be used to fill empty spots with beautiful wildflowers. Seed Balls are a growing trend in guerilla gardening, and they make for great gifts to your family, neighbors, and more!
NATIONAL HONEY BEE DAY
National Honey Bee Day is observed on the third Saturday in August. National Honey Bee Day was created in 2009 and was originally intended for beekeepers as a day of education and to promote honey bees and fresh supplies of honey. Now it is meant to celebrate, and show appreciation to the hardworking Honey Bee.
Did you know Honey Bees travel 55,000 miles to produce just one pound of honey? To make that happen, bees need to gather nectar from over two million flowers. Honey Bees produce the delicious honey that we all enjoy and they are vital to the pollination of the fruits and vegetables we eat. Let’s support our hardworking friends with the flowers that they need!
HOW-TO MAKE SEED BALLS
SUPPLIES:
For this garden activity, you will need the following supplies:
- Flower Mix Seeds by Botanical Interests®
- Calloway’s Premium Container Potting Soil
- Air-Dry Clay
- Rolling Pin
- Gel Food Coloring (optional)
- Parchment Paper
- Cookie Sheet
STEP 1: PREPARE YOUR AIR-DRY CLAY
Cut off a piece of your air-dry clay. If you want to keep your clay white, skip this step and roll out your clay into a flat, thick slab.
Form your clay into a ball and make an indention for the food coloring. Add a couple drops of food coloring and knead it together to create a marbling effect. We used multiple colors to help us differentiate between the different seed mixes.
Always use adult supervision with food coloring, as it can stain some surfaces.
Roll the clay out into a thick slab, making it large enough to pour the soil and seeds on it. You want the clay to cover your seeds to give them the best chance at germinating after enough rain falls and to protect them from getting eaten before they can grow.
STEP 2: ADD CALLOWAY’S PREMIUM SOIL AND SEEDS
Next, get your Calloway’s Premium Container Potting Soil and pour it on top of the clay. Then, add the seeds.
At Calloway’s and Cornelius, we have a wide variety of seed options for you to choose from. Check out the fabulous Flower Mix blends from Botanical Interests® like Bring Home the Butterflies, Save the Bees, Songbird Delight, and more!
The different seed blends will help with attracting Honey Bees to your garden and other beneficial pollinators.
STEP 3: MAKE YOUR SEED BALLS
After the soil and seeds are added, fold together and knead until everything is mixed.
Roll into a log shape and cut the log up into pieces.
Take each piece and roll it into small Seed Balls.
Repeat until all your clay pieces are made into Seed Balls. Lay your Seed Balls on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper.
Allow the Seed Balls to dry completely before using. These can take a few days to dry. You can also set the Seed Balls out in the sun to speed up the process.
Keep your Seed Balls dry until they are ready to be tossed where you want your plants to grow.
HOW TO PLANT SEED BALLS
Once your Seed Balls are ready, start looking for an unloved corner or area that could benefit from a dash of wildflowers. Seed Balls can simply be tossed into the garden. For your success, try to time this with a heavy rainfall. Water as needed to help your flowers grow.
These homemade Seed Balls are a fun and easy DIY garden activity for you and your kids. They are also a perfect way to add gorgeous blooms to your garden.
SHOP WITH EASE
To better serve you, at Calloway’s and Cornelius, we have convenient ways to shop for your Seed Ball supplies! Shop our local breezy, open-air stores or shop online for Curbside Pickup or Delivery!
Stop by today and explore our beautiful selection now! Have questions? Ask our Texas Certified Nursery Professionals; they are here to help!
