Everyday Plants
What yellow flower is famous for turning toward the sun?
Sunflower
What kitchen scrap is one of the most common items added to a compost pile?
Fruit and vegetable scraps
Bananas are berries, but strawberries aren't. True or false?
True! Bananas grow from a single flower with one ovary and hold their seeds inside. Strawberry seeds are on the outside and are technically individual tiny fruits!
What plant gives Popeye his famous burst of strength?
Spinach
Which plant is commonly used to soothe minor skin irritation and sunburn?
Aloe Vera
What plant do we get chocolate from?
The cacao tree
True or false: Eggshells can be composted.
True! Eggshells break down slowly but can be added to compost.
Are avocados considered fruits?
Yes! They develop from flowers and contain seeds.
What plant does Mario eat to shoot fireballs?
Fire Flower
Which common spring flower has poisonous bulbs that can make you sick if eaten?
Daffodil
What was one of the earliest uses of cannabis besides medicinal purposes?
Making rope and textiles from hemp fibers.
True or False: You can compost meat.
False! It can attract pests and cause odors in a typical backyard compost pile.
Peanuts grow underground. True or false?
In The Hunger Games, what poisonous berries do Katniss and Peeta threaten to eat together?
Nightlock berries
True or false: You can develop a pollen allergy even if you've never had seasonal allergies before.
True! Allergies can develop at any age, even in people who have never experienced symptoms before.
What plant is used to make the tea in traditional matcha?
Tea plant (Camellia sinensis)
True or false: Compost is ready to use as soon as you throw food scraps and leaves into a pile.
False! Compost usually needs weeks to months to break down into a dark, crumbly material that is ready to use.
True or false: Bamboo is a type of tree.
False! It's actually a type of grass
In Harry Potter, what magical plant screams when pulled out of its pot?
Mandrake
True or false: Only people who are allergic to poison ivy can develop a rash after touching it.
True! The rash is caused by an allergic reaction to urushiol, an oil found in poison ivy. Sensitivity varies, and people can develop an allergy after repeated exposure.
What plant is used to make tequila?
Blue agave
What gas can be produced when food waste decomposes in a landfill without enough oxygen?
Methane. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, which is one reason composting food scraps can help reduce landfill emissions.
True or false: Rice is a type of grass.
True! Rice belongs to the grass family, along with wheat, corn, and bamboo.
In The Little Shop of Horrors, what is the name of the giant, man-eating plant?
Audrey II
What poisonous plant was historically used to make the poison associated with Socrates' execution in ancient Greece?
Poison hemlock