Lots of people look for a "starter" garden project this time of year for themselves or with a child in the family or neighborhood.

Zinnias are the best choice. You can buy them as young plants in pots.

But for a real gardening experience, start with seeds.

That will give everyone a lesson in bringing plants into bloom from the very beginning, a point of pride for many people.

Many choices exist among zinnias. Depending on the variety, the height range is about 1 to 4 feet, and the colors include all the bright hues of summer, including red, orange, yellow, purple and pink. There's even a green named Tequila Lime.

To get started, here's what you need: seeds, small pot, potting soil, small peat pots and liquid fertilizer. Just fill the pot — one that is 8 or 10 inches in diameter is fine — with the good soil to about 1Z\x inches below the rim.

Sow the seeds thinly, and save some of them as insurance or for a second batch in a month or so. Sprinkle soil over the seeds thinly to cover them gently. Then spray the soil gently with your sprinkler or your kitchen sink sprayer. Let the pot drain, then cover it with clear plastic wrap and keep it on a covered porch while the seeds germinate.

Take off the plastic wrap once germination begins and watch carefully to make sure the soil does not dry out. But don't keep it soggy either.

As the young zinnias develop into robust plants, take them out and plant in individual peat pots to grow into garden size plants. Fertilize them. Once they get about 3 inches tall, set them out in the flower bed.

You could sow the seeds directly in the ground if your garden is ready and isn't occupied by the maturing foliage of daffodils or tulips. But keep a close watch for slugs, which can devour young seedlings in the flower bed.