This week's fun activity... Snowstorm at Home!

Winter is officially here!   Snow cover is an essential part of our natural ecosystem – snow actually helps protect plant roots and keeps them healthy and insulated over the cold Winter months.  If you love the snowfall, this week’s activity is perfect. We will create a snowstorm at home!

Materials: Jar, bottle or large drinking glass Baby oil (vegetable oil will also work) Water White acrylic paint Glitter (optional) Food coloring (optional) Alka Seltzer tablets

Step 1 - Fill Fill your container ¼ full with water.   Add a tablespoon of white paint and swirl to mix. Your mixture should have a milk-like consistency and color.   This is your “snow!”  Add slightly more paint or more water to get the right consistency or color.

Step 2 – Oil Pour oil into your container until it is 2/3 full.   The oil is the “sky.” Clear oils like baby oil work well; if you use vegetable oils you’ll have a yellow colored sky instead!  The oil will float on top of the water and paint mixture because it is less dense.

Step 3 - (optional) Glitter Add glitter to the top of your oil – this will make the snow sparkle and shine as it falls.

Step 4 –Make it Snow Break an Alka Seltzer tablet into two or three smaller pieces.  When you’re ready, drop a piece into your container to start a snowstorm! The tablet produces air and bubbles when it reacts with water.  Those bubbles will float to the top of your container and pop.   Then, the water and white paint will fall back down to through your oil sky because they’re heavier (more dense) and will sink!   When the snow stops falling, you can start a new storm again by adding another tablet! Step 5 – (Optional) Color You can also add color to your snow by dropping food coloring into your container!

FBBG Memberships: Great All Year Round! All FBBG members receive: Unlimited access to the Gardens A 10% discount in Nell's Garden Cafe' Discounts on FBBG classes, special events and in our Gift Shop on select stock items. Free admission to over 300 AHS gardens nationwide... Including Chicago Botanic, Arizona's Desert Botanical Garden, Illinois' Morton Arboretum and the Florida Botanical Gardens! FBBG's In Season Newsletter Membership Appreciation Event...and more! MEMBER LEVELS: Individual $35 One Membership Admission Card & (1) One-time Guest Pass Individual +1 $50 Two Membership Admission Cards & (2) One-time Guest Passes Family $65 Two Membership Admission Cards - Good for two adults and three children under 17 & (3) One-time Guest Passes Donor level memberships are also available starting at $100. For more information, please call the FBBG office at 414-525-5653. Become a Member Now!

BOERNER BOTANICAL GARDENS UPDATE The Gardens are now closed for the season. The Education and Visitor Center is open. Hours are 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. MASKS ARE REQUIRED! Gift Shop Opening to be announced. Be sure to watch for announcements on fun learning activities for all ages, and for updates on our classes and programs, hosted by FBBG - all year - indoors and out!

Please continue to watch for our weekly activities...  fun learning for ALL ages!