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Highlights:
The tulip garden draws students outdoors for observation and scientific inquiry. Students in Thornwood, NY noted that their tulip flowers open during the day and close at night. Studying the map they noticed that no tulips have bloomed in Alaska yet.

Another observant student wrote to ask, "Why is it that the tip of the pistil of some tulips are shaped in a Y and some are shaped like an X?"

Maybe you can answer their question after reading this week's botany lesson.

All living things are classified into groups called families.

What family does the tulip belong in? To find out you have to start with the flower.

Study your own blooming tulip or this picture >>

A Botany Lesson: Try This!

• Look closely at a tulip flower
• Draw the flower (include all the flower parts you see)
• Label the plant parts if you can
• After reading the botany lesson make any changes to your drawing >>

Journal Question
Your tulip flower drawing shows specialized flower parts called anthers and stigma. These plants parts are very colorful and beautiful, but in science there’s always a WHY behind WHAT you see.

• What purpose do the anthers and stigma have for tulip plants?

Write your response in your journal. Then see what we think >>