Ask Dr. Orvis.

In the biathlon, you will run 1 mile and then swim 100 yards. The fastest runner and swimmer in their age group will win a college scholarship.

At the 2002 Games, keyboard virtuosos can tickle the ivories at our very first piano contest. Dazzle the judges with your talent, and you could be the fortunate winner of a college scholarship.

Enter the Gardening Essay and/or Gardening Art Contests (see pages 24 & 25).

Dear Dr. Orvis:

Why are flowers so bright and pretty?

Courtney Taylor Minneapolis, Minnesota 

Dear Courtney:

To attract pollinators, of course! Pollinators can be insects, birds, and even mammals, such as bats. Their job is to help move flower pollen from one plant to another. In this way flowers are fertilized and seeds develop. Many plants need to make seeds every year in order to grow again the next year. Flowers need to be brightly colored to attract the attention of its specific pollinator, such as bees for apple trees and butterflies for pincushion flowers.

Dear Dr. Orvis:

What is the difference between a useful plant and a weed?

Maggie Smith Orlando, Florida 

Dear Maggie:

The answer can depend on what you think is useful and what is weedy. We can say that "weeds" are uninvited guests in our lawns, gardens, and fields. Weeds are plants that you didn't intentionally plant in your growing space, and they can generally grow just about anywhere. Weeds compete with useful plants, such as flowers and vegetables in your garden, for nutrients, light, space, and water. And since you didn't plant them they grow in-between rows and plants, making your garden look untidy. Some weeds are not all bad, because some beneficial creatures like frogs, ladybugs, and butterflies, can use weeds for food and shelter.