Mystical Tree and Mystical Garden

Happy back to school!  We believe in education and we wish all students much success.  We wanted to introduce you to two items we now have available in our Explore Store.  They are super cool...they use crystals to create "trees" and "gardens."  The best part is that all you need is water and the transformation occurs in a few hours.  Send us pictures of you with your magical tree or garden and we'll post them here!

MYSTICAL TREE

With "special powers," Mystical Tree transforms from a paper cut-out into a beautiful tree. Safe and nontoxic.  Just water your tree with the provided liquid and your tree with grow into a beautiful crystal garden.

MYSTICAL GARDEN
The garden "scene" is easy to set up and then you simply "water" the paper plants with the magic growing solution. Kit includes everything needed to grow your 5" x 8" garden. Garden includes plastic base, paper trees, mountains and grass, 4 packets of magical growing solution and complete instructions.

Kids Can Help Solve the Mystery of the Bugs

20 years ago, researchers made a startling discovery; several native ladybugs* that were once very common are now rare to see. During this time, the number of ladybugs from other places has increased.

Why is the population of native ladybugs declining? Perhaps something is making the ladybugs sick? Or perhaps the ladybugs have simply moved to other places. It’s too early to know for sure. That is why scientists need your help!

Entomologist John Losey started the Lost Ladybug Project. (Entomologists are scientists who study bugs.)

To help, submit photographs of any ladybugs you find! Losey and his staff hope to have 100 photos from each state. Click to submit photos.

So parents, kids, families, grab that camera and start snapping! One photo at a time may lead to the solution of this great mystery and may help prevent more species from becoming so rare.

*Ladybugs are the little cute red bugs with black spots that you can see in a meadow or perhaps on a wildflower. However, now that summer is in session, ladybugs could be anywhere. They are considered “beneficial insects” because they eat the bugs that could do harm to crops. If the ladybugs were not around to do their job just right, the U.S. farmers would have to spend much more than they usually do on chemicals that kill the bad bugs.

Now kids can help solve the mystery of the missing ladybugs.