Rye Grass Basket
Text and photo by Chris McComas
Easter is just around the corner, and you still have plenty of time to sprout a basket of live grass. Use it as a traditional base for the Easter bunny to leave his treats or as an unusual fresh centerpiece.
Start by finding an interesting basket, such as rustic grapevine or one of the children's old reed or plastic baskets. Line the basket with plastic cling wrap or colored cellophane. Alternatively, you could fit it with a shallow plastic container.
Add a few inches of soil-less potting mix, filling to near the basket rim, then water gently.
Sprinkle annual rye grass seeds thickly, gently pressing them so they make good contact with the soil. Set on a warm, bright window sill, being sure to keep the seed bed moist with daily misting. Wait about a week and voila! A natural fresh grass basket.
Should the grass get taller than you like, simply snip it shorter with scissors.