Yes, Emma and Milly are licking the maple tree in front of the school (as all of us did.) The Elms participated in a quick but very memorable lesson on xylem and phloem on Friday. For those of you who don't do crosswords regularly, xylem and phloem are the botanical name for the "straws" that run through plants. Xylem typically brings water from the roots to the leaves. Phloem brings the sugars produced by photosynthesis back to the roots for storage. Only in spring time does the xylem transport sugars, this time from the roots where it's been stored all winter to power the growth of the buds, leaves and new growth.
After learning about the process, the Elms got to observe it first hand, licking trickling sap off of our only maple tree. All in the name of science.
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