BLAZIN’ LILY GALS – EFFLORESCENCE
Curiosity Questions
• Why do you think plants form flowers? (Sexual reproduction, one of the most important evolutionary
adaptations of plants)
• Why do you think flowers actively attract insects such as bees and provide them with nectar as a food
source? (Relates to pollination and reproduction)
• Why do you think the Blazin’ Lily Gals chose a flower as the exhibit?
• Why do you think humans are attracted to flowers, lights, and fire? (Relates back to insects’ attraction to flowers. Humans are
attracted to flowers for food, beauty, and medicine; lights for security; and fire for security and food)
Flower
Science Themes
• A flower is the reproductive part of a plant. It helps to connect the sperm and egg, often with the aid of an animal (insect,
mammals, birds, human, etc.).
• Flowers have long been admired and cultivated by humans for their aesthetic beauty, their (usually)
pleasant fragrances, and also for their medicinal properties. However, there is a plant, aptly named the
Corpse Flower, that produces odours that resemble a rotting carcass in order to attract insects to pollinate
it! Gross!
• A flower is composed of several specialized parts that plants have evolved in a wide variety of
arrangements, colors, and sizes, to increase the plant’s chance at reproduction. (Note: there are no
known species of plant whose flowers shoot fire!)
• Lilies are a genus of flowering plants that are known for their large colourful petals and prominent
reproductive organs that sprout from the flower’s centre.
Figure One: Corpse Flower
• As a perennial (a plant that lives for more than 2 years) that occurs in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, lilies form
large underground bulbs that enable the plant to survive the winter months
BLAZIN’ LILY GALS – EFFLORESCENCE
Science Themes
Parts of a Flower
Stalk - the arm that connects the flower to the main stem of the plant.
Also called a peduncle or pedicel.
Receptacle - the portion of the flower that connects the stalk to the
flower.
Nectary - the structure of some flowers that produces nectar
Ovary - the female organ of the flower that produces the ovules
(eggs).
Style - the stalk that connects the ovary to the stigma.
Stigma - the structure of the flower where pollen germinates to
complete the reproductive process.
Pistil - the collective female organs of the plant composed of the
ovary, style, and pistil.
Filament - the stalk that connects the anther to the
receptacle.
Anther - the structure where pollen (which contains sperm) is
produced.
Stamen - the collective male organs of the plant composed of
the anther and the filament.
Ovule - the ‘eggs’ of a flowering plant containing the female
reproductive cells.
Sepal - leaves on the flower that form a protective cover for a
developing flower bud.
Petal - the colored portion of the flower that are often highly
colored to attract animals
BLAZIN’ LILY GALS – EFFLORESCENCE
Makers and Making
THE ARTIST | The Blazin’ Lily Gals - The Blazin’ Lily Gals is an artist collective with a shared desire
to create interesting and inspiring pieces of art. Their specialties are relatively large pieces made
of metal to create their visually impressive masterpieces. Oh, and most of them spout fire!
ART INSPITATION | The idea for this project came from an informal brainstorming session, where
the artists wanted to pick a project to challenge themselves to learn new metal-working skills.
Given that there isn’t much in the way of drop-in metal-working classes, the artists have recruited
the help of friends and colleagues with certifications in welding and machining so they could learn
safely from trained professionals
DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION | The initial design is sketched out on paper and the piece is brought
to life with round-bar and heat-treated sheet metal that results in beautiful blue hues that also
rust when exposed to air, creating a visually appealing juxtaposition of colors and textures.
THE LOCATION| The Efflorescence flowers will be doing some extensive traveling around western Canada to various festivals and
events before making their way to the Bridgeland area during Beakerhead week in September.