Here is an easy science experiment that does not require a large amount of effort.  It is fun, relatively trouble free and has scientific inquiry possibilities as well!

The Blue Rose

Have you ever seen a blue rose?  It does not exist in nature.  We can, however, make one with about 15 minutes of effort in this easy science experiment involving the vascular system of plants.

This is what you will need: one or more white roses (ones that are just budding are best), a small bottle of blue food coloring, a vase large enough to hold the roses, some safety scissors or kitchen shears, and a stable table top that will remain undisturbed overnight.

Here is the procedure: Take each rose (carefully, since they may have thorns) and turn it upside down until you are looking the end of the stem.  Take safety scissors (or kitchen shears if you are old enough) and cut the end of the stem at a 45 degree angle.  Start the cut about an inch and a half from the bottom of the stem and cut away from your fingers.  Do this for each rose you have.

Fill the vase with lukewarm tap water.   Take the blue food coloring you have on hand and drip 10-15 drops of the food coloring into the vase filled with water.

Now place the stem cut roses into the vase of colored water and place the vase in a spot where it wont be disturbed overnight.

Now come back to see the roses in the morning and you should have something that looks like the picture to the right:

Results: That's all there is to it!  Well, sort of.  Why did the rose turn blue?  The answer lies with the fact that roses (along with many other flower bearing plants) have a vascular system that draws water and nutrients up from their roots along the stem and into the petals of the flower itself.  How is that for an easy science experiment?

If you look closely at your blue rose, you will see minute lines of dark blue against the backdrop of the light blue petal.  These are some of the vessels that carried the water and the blue dye that we put into it.

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