DiggingforInformation
Tolearnwhichplantswereoriginal,theteamduglong,shallowrectanglesinseveralplaces.Theydugdeepenoughtofind clues.
Insomeplaces,thesoilwasdarkerthanthedirtaroundit.Washingtonusedrichdarksoilforplanting.Itwasmorefertile.Thisdarkersoilshowedwheretheoriginalplantingbeds were.
Theteamdugupshallowsectionsofthegardentolookforcluesinthe soil.
DiggingDeeper
Whattheteamfoundinthesoilwasevenmoreinteresting.TheyfoundpollenandseedsfromWashington’stime.Theycollectedsamplesandsentthemtoalab.There,scientistsdeterminedthespeciesofeachplant.Thishelpedresearchersknowwhetheraplantwas indigenoustotheregionorexotic.Theyfoundboth.Itwascostlytoimportplants,butWashingtonhadthemoneytodo it!
