Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Your gift keeps resources like this database thriving!

DONATE TODAY

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Thursday - January 12, 2012

From: Danbury, CT
Region: Northeast
Topic: General Botany
Title: Help with Science Fair project from Danbury CT
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

Hello Mr Smarty, I was going to do my science project on weevils and their impact on milfoil. The weevils are in hibernation until spring and my project is due in mid-Feb. Any suggestions on a similar project that I can do now that include a local invasive species? Thanks Natalie

ANSWER:

You won't believe this, but this is not the first time Mr. Smarty Plants has been asked for help with Science Fair projects. Nor is this the first time that a little more planning ahead on the project might have saved the day. Since we don't know what kind of resources you might have, or the specifications for your particular school, we are going to link you to seven previous questions to Mr. Smarty Plants. Some have links to other websites that might make suggestions useful to you. Hopefully, some of these will give you suggestions you can use.

Plants surviving all climates

Music affecting sunflower plants

Fast growing plants

Music affecting necklacepod plants

Flowers opening at day or night

Glucose concentration for plants

Effects of temperature on plants

Plants that can grow in two weeks

Invasive plants in American Samoa

 

 
 

More General Botany Questions

Are Native Cultivars As Beneficial to Wildlife?
September 02, 2015 - I am working on adding more native plants to my small acreage. I would like to know if using a selection or cultivar of a native species is as likely to have wildlife benefits as using a randomly prop...
view the full question and answer

Smarty Plants on cell elongation
June 09, 2005 - Why do plants grow faster in the dark?
view the full question and answer

White and red Turk's cap and possible crossing
September 18, 2013 - I have had some white Turk's cap for several years. This year, some red Turk's cap has appeared among it. I have the red in another location. Will the red become dominant if I leave it among the whi...
view the full question and answer

Experiment to detect presence of sugar in cellulose from Routt CO
January 28, 2013 - My teacher ask me to plan an experiment to detect the presence of sugar in cellulose. I know that cellulose are abundant at the stem, and sugar here is glucose. I wonder how to conduct this experiment...
view the full question and answer

Restoring the woods in Central Austin.
May 08, 2012 - I live in Austin, south central between Red Bud trail close to the low water bridge and Bee Caves road. My question: I want to make the wooded sections of my yard attractive. They have filtered sun...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.