Marissa Gallant & Suzanne Hauerstein
New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill Staff
Are you feeling a bit lonely? Do you wish you had a pet but don’t want to deal with the hairballs, walks, feeding schedule, and expenses? Well we have the pet for you! You heard it right folks, pet rocks are back-or maybe they never left!
In 1975 after hearing his friends tell tales of woe about their pet problems, Gary Dahl launched the perfect pet-the pet rock. The original pet rock was just that: a rock. It was not cute or cuddly, nor did it even have a face, but it did come in a custom cardboard carrier with airholes of course. The kit came complete with a manual entitled The Care and Training of Your Pet Rock which was filled with puns and jokes about how to care for your pet rock and a list of tricks to teach your new pet, playing dead being the rock’s specialty. Dahl’s creation rose to fame nearly overnight and at the height of the fad Dahl was shipping out thousands of rocks each day. Though the novelty of Dahl’s gag gift wore off quickly, the fun of pet rocks lives on today.
Try this ’70s fad with the young and young at heart in your life and bring a bit of nature indoors. All you need is the perfect rock and a little imagination. Tune in for a reading of Everybody Needs a Rock then follow the simple steps below to get some inspiration for bringing your own pet rocks to life.
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Ready to create the perfect pet? Gather your supplies and try one of the suggestions below or get creative and come up with your own designs.
You will need:
- Assorted rocks
- Acrylic or tempera paint
- Yarn, pom poms, felt or other fabric scraps
- Mini flowerpot (if making cactus)
- Pencil
- Hot glue or school glue
- Paper bag or newspaper
Once you have selected the perfect rock or rocks, wash and dry your new friend. Once dry, you are ready to create! Lay down a paper bag or newspaper to cover your work surface.
Try turning your pet rock into an animal like this bunny! First look at your rocks and see if any of them resemble the shape of an animal. Draw your animal design on your rock using pencil then paint.
Not great with a pencil and paintbrush? Try creating a furry friend instead. Select your rock and use paint or a pencil to mark the face of your pet. Use yarn or felt for fur and googly eyes, pom poms or other fabric scraps for eyes, a nose, and a mouth. Hot glue works best to secure your embellishments, but school glue will also work.
Pet rocks aren’t limited to just animals! Try creating your own potted friend like the cactus below. Grab a mini terracotta pot, a yogurt cup, or a cardboard tube and start by painting your rock. Add a flower by gluing on a pom-pom and place in your mini pot. Don’t forget to place in a sunny window!
Don’t forget to name your pet rocks, giving them love and care. Congratulations new pet parents!