Yesterday the Young Naturalists braved the pouring raining to venture out to the Durfee Conservatory at UMASS. Michael Formosi, the greenhouse director, showed us the different houses of plants - the succulent house, the scented plant house, the tropical house, the air plant house, and the bonsai house. It was the perfect place to explore on such a rainy day!
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| Campers learned that succulents can hold a lot of water - they're the "camels" of the plant world. Most succulents are coated with wax, which seals the plant up and keeps precious water from escaping. |
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| We looked for fish in the pond of the tropical house - they were hiding but came out eventually! |
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| We all got to touch sensitive plant, which folds up when you touch it! |
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| Old Man Cactus is covered with hair, which protects it from being burned in the desert - like our hair on our heads! |
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| Michael showed us a cacao tree - where chocolate comes from! |
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| This is a gum tree! |
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| There were lots of interesting plants to sniff, such as ginger, jasmine, geraniums, lemongrass and more! I believe this is ginger leaf we are smelling here. |
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| Bromeliads are plants that grow on trees and can hold tremendous amounts of water! Michael poured the water out of this one to show us how much. |
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| Sensitive plant |
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| Bamboo forest! |
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| Spanish moss |
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| Sensitive plant, all folded up |
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| Old Man Cactus |
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| Bonsai house |
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| Making music with bamboo! |
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| Michael showed us how the vents of the greenhouse could open to let hot air out the roof. |
