Public invited to Science Saturday: Wild Gardens

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Natural History Museum will encourage children and families to get into gardening at Science Saturday: Wild Gardens, which will be 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, May 25.

The free drop-in event led by KU botanists will feature activities about plant anatomy, the diversity of plants — including fluorescent lichens — and even offer the chance to make wildflower “seed bombs” that can be planted after the event.

The seed balls, which combine seeds, clay and compost rolled together, include many locally growing varieties such as Maximilian’s sunflower, Illinois bundle-flower, showy partridgepea, black-eyed Susan, purple prairie-clover and several varieties of coneflower, including upright, clasping, gray-head and purple.

Other activities include instruction on building a plant press to preserve plant specimens, crafts using flowers to make sun-inspired photo prints, and ways to explore the differences between plants, such as the difference between fruits and vegetables.

The event is part of the museum’s Science Saturday series, free drop-in events with activities and education taking place regularly at the museum. Upcoming events will be focused on glaciers and ice, fractals, fossils and chemistry.