Can you believe that Easter is almost here? I feel like this time of year always creeps slowly up on me, and suddenly it’s here! We here at the Beehive are loving the warm weather and are spending as much time as we can outside these days. And I love being able to serve Easter dinner outside…much easier to clean up! Since Easter is definitely close, I have started a few Easter projects with the Busy Bees, and I’m excited to share one with you.
Remembering the reason we celebrate Easter is a priority in our family and as the Little Bee grows, I think it’s important to take every opportunity to emphasize that Easter is about so much more than candy and bunnies, even though those things are fun! I saw a beautiful “Resurrection Garden” a few years ago on a blog and thought this would be a fun project for my girls and a good way to keep the empty tomb at the front of our minds.
To make a Resurrection Garden, you need:
– a shallow saucer. I used some terra cotta ones that were hanging around in the shed but you could use a baking dish too
– potting soil
– an empty container for the tomb. The original I saw used a small terra cotta pot, but I went super classy on this one and used an empty eye makeup remover containter.
– A rock for the front of the tomb
– Wheatberries or grass seed. I used wheatberries that I bought at Sprouts with great intentions of grinding my own wheat. Um, that never happened.
– Some sticks and twine to make the crosses.
The oranges are optional. And my weird kid likes them cut in circles instead of wedges. Go figure.
A quick note – the wheatberries will sprout faster if you soak them overnight.
First, spread a layer of soil in the saucer.
Next, wedge the container that you are using for the tomb into the soil and cover it, too. We made one Resurrection garden and the other two I’m going to use for another decoration.
Make the crosses by tying twine around the sticks and stick them in.
Spread the wheatberries in a single layer and cover them with a light layer of soil. Drink some coffee. Has anyone else noticed that there are always food items in my pictures?
Keep them moist and in a warm place, but not direct sunlight. And preferrably away from a curious dog. The best way to keep them moist is to mist them with a spray bottle,because the top layer is so shallow. Just let me warn you though, if you give spray bottles to both children, this is likely to happen…
instead of this…
I also submerged the bottom of the saucer in water in a glass baking dish for 20 minutes a day to keep the rest of the soil moist. In just a few days, we saw some growth! See the teeny tiny speck of green?
As of this morning, our Resurrection Garden looks like this! Check back in two weeks to see my Easter dinner table and how I use this little project as a centerpiece!
“The angel said to the women ‘Do not be afraid, for I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said…”
Matthew 28:5 – 6
