Math in Bloom includes six botanical gardens across the United States: Cheekwood Estate & Gardens (Nashville, TN), Denver Botanic Gardens (Denver, CO), Desert Botanical Garden (Phoenix, AZ), Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens (Columbus, OH), Queens Botanical Garden (Flushing, NY), to bring this idea to life through plants, design and discovery.
Included With Admission
Day
All Ages
Join us for Fibonacci Day
Explore the fascinating connection between mathematics and the natural world through the lens of the Sonoran Desert. Discover how the Fibonacci Sequence appears in the spirals, patterns and growth of desert plants through engaging activities, interactive experiences and guided exploration throughout the Garden. This unique celebration reveals the hidden mathematics that shapes the beauty of nature all around us.
Agave Station — Find the Fibonacci Spiral
Explore the beautiful spirals of agave rosettes and discover how Fibonacci patterns and the golden angle help shape the way their leaves grow. Then plant your own agave pup to take home.
Saguaro Station — Count the Ribs
Have you ever seen the inside of a cactus? Put your counting skills to the test! Count the ribs of a saguaro to discover how Fibonacci patterns appear in the skeleton of some desert plants.
Fibonacci in the Desert — Myth Busting
Is Fibonacci really everywhere in nature? Make your prediction, explore plants from the Sonoran Desert and beyond – uncover which ones follow Fibonacci patterns and which ones don’t.
Fibonacci Florals — Build a Better Flower
Discover the mathematical patterns hidden in flowers as you build your own colorful bloom. Arrange petals using the Fibonacci sequence to see how numbers can create beautiful patterns in nature and create your own floral artwork to take home.
Saltbush & Creosote — Make Room for Leaves
How do plants fit so many leaves into such a small space? Experiment with different arrangements and discover how patterns help plants make the most of sunlight and water.
Desert Critters — Patterns in the Animal World
Look closely at desert animals and discover spirals, shapes and repeating patterns in nature. Explore the surprising mathematics behind everything from snail shells to the hexagonal homes of bees.
Shapes in Nature — Create Your Own Patterns
Look for shapes and repeat patterns in the natural world, then create your own. Play with tangrams, tessellations, light and geometric designs inspired by nature.
Chalk Towers — Draw the Numbers
Grab some chalk and bring Fibonacci to life! Explore numbers, spirals and patterns through drawing and doodling and see how high you can build the Fibonacci sequence without a calculator.
Fibonacci Scavenger Hunt — Find the Hidden Pattern
Think you can spot a Fibonacci pattern? Search the Garden for plants, objects and hidden clues that reveal spirals, sequences and other mathematical patterns in nature.
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