… is simply mixed, rolled, and cookie-cut—the ornamental “cookies” then air dry on the counter for a couple of days, becoming surprisingly lightweight and a pretty, cinnamony color. The process is easy and kid-friendly, great to try at home for your seasonal decorations. Nancy let us photograph her at work, while supplying some tips … but no, don’t eat this dough! “I tried it,” Nancy says, “And it tastes terrible. It’s for crafting only!” MIXING AND ROLLING Slowly and carefully pour 1 pound of cinnamon into a large …
Type: Blog
… There are things I look forward to seeing every season. In spring, I watch for “mighty plants” that emerge from the ground with enough force to heave the soil above ground. … to suit their needs (which is a disciplinary core idea in Next Generation Science Standards for kindergarten). I recommend doing it in the classroom or at home, just for fun. Here are a few points about the nature of science and how scientists work. Science is a …
Type: Blog
… a paper grocery bag or use newspaper to spread out on a table. This creates a clear work space for your child and makes clean up a breeze. 2. Grab a small pail to make the mud in. Let your … it in a sunny spot to dry. Parent Tip: Remember to have some damp towels or wipes nearby for messy hands. Mud Kitchen Give up one area of your yard to be that mud kitchen area. We know … or even recyclables. Mud Painting No paint? Try mud! It’s fun and a great sensory experience for kids. Here’s what you’ll need: Dirt Disposable bowl Flour Water Any type of paper …
Type: Blog
… back approximately 600 years. Originally, men and women arranged flowers as Buddhist offerings for altars at temples. Since then, ikebana has established itself as an art form beyond religious … style, the arranger is invited to remain silent. The silence creates a meditative space for the artist to connect with and appreciate nature more closely. For ikebana floral designer and Garden volunteer Shelley Galloway, the connection between nature …
Type: Blog
… at Chicago Botanic Garden evaluated 425 experiments that gauged the effectiveness of insects for controlling weeds. Introducing insects to control weeds has been helpful, but often the … insect on the weed.” Biocontrol agents can have severe adverse effects on desirable plants. For example, thistle seedhead weevils ( Rhinocyllus conicus and Larinus planus ) are now damaging … about the risks and rewards of introducing insects to control weeds. https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/69/4/247/5427085/ …
Type: Research
… at Bell Museum at the University of Minnesota. The workshop covered multiple techniques for communicating science, including using a storytelling approach to share science in an … our lives. While at Bell Museum, Barak and Tonietto partnered with museum experts for a spotlight science event at the Museum. The event connected Plant Love Stories with Wicked … a live storytelling event featuring student speakers, table activities, and an opportunity for museum visitors to share their plant love stories. “Stories help build connections between …
Type: Research
… spring, I was traveling through the McDonald Woods at the Chicago Botanic Garden, searching for some of the flat-bodied crab spiders ( Philodromus ) that typically spend the winter in … with wings. When I was in college studying mammology, we used to go out at night and look for streetlights where there were large numbers of moths and other flying insects attracted to … I don’t know if the bat was aware of it, but this dead branch provided the perfect camouflage for her rich color. This made me think about how these mammals perceive the world. Do bats have …
Type: Blog
… and other fruit ripening in your kitchen, because it can attract fruit flies. Leave it there for three to five days, depending on the conditions. Natural “beasties” in the air (yeast) will … head of gunk on your seeds, remove that film and throw it away. (Unless you’d like to keep it for some reason.) If you can’t skim all of it, no worries, the remaining goo will rinse off in … look right. They are not viable. Let the seeds air dry on the wax paper in a protected place for about a week. Store the completely dried seeds in an envelope until you are ready to use …
Type: Blog
… is the date we put Spike on public view!) . Several weeks later, Beccari saw a flowering plant for the first time. He sent a few tubers and seeds to Florence, Italy, but the tubers all … Kew, in England. There, in 1889, 11 years after its discovery, a titan arum plant flowered for the first time outside its tropical home. No one knows how common the titan arum is in the … known habitat is the rainforest of Sumatra, which is being steadily eroded by deforestation for palm oil production, by pollution, and by human encroachment. The corms are also being dug up …
Type: Blog
… those of traditional mown lawns. We are testing different traditional and alternative lawns for their potential ecosystem functions, including providing habitat for plants, pollinators, and other wildlife, absorbing and retaining stormwater, and climate … at University of Michigan-Flint). For more information, please see www.rethinkinglawns.com . All artwork on our signs and website is by Liz Anna Kozik. This research is funded by the …
Type: Research
