Why do flowers bloom?

<p>Why do flowers bloom? How do flowers grow? Why are flowers different colors? Why do people find flowers beautiful? How are seeds made? Why do plants grow from seeds? Why do we put seeds in the garden? We’re answering your questions about seeds and flowers with garden writer Charlie Nardozzi and Hannes Dempewolf from The Crop Trust. Find more answers to plant questions in two of our older episodes: <em><a href="https://www.vpr.org/programs/2017-03-17/how-do-big-plants-grow-from-such-small-seeds" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How Do Big Plants Grow From Such Small Seeds?</a></em> and <em><a href="https://www.vpr.org/programs/2021-06-04/are-seeds-alive" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Are Seeds Alive?</a></em> </p> <p>Download our learning guides: <a href="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/0e/55/328ebb5a4fc2b7bdcf8c82089813/why-do-flowers-bloom.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PDF</a> | <a href="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1uChvggYYwW53Nc5FO7QZJG_TLXUGMTBf8WWhBQgdv7E/copy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Google Slide</a> | <a href="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/76/cd/6db1a75a49f59cbbcc270010fc07/butwhy-179-flowers-transcript.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Transcript</a></p> <ul> <li><p>New seeds are made through pollination, plant reproduction. Pollen makes its way to the ovary of a flower in various ways. Sometimes it is spread from one flower to another by a pollinator, like a bee or hummingbird. Some flowers are called “perfect”, meaning they can reproduce with their own pollen–not the pollen from another plant. But they still need a way for their own pollen to drop onto their egg. A gentle gust of wind, or the jostling of the plant by a gardener's hand can do the trick. </p></li> <li><p>The flower will create the seed and then the flower structure will fade, leaving behind a seed. Sometimes it’s in a pod, sometimes it’s in a fruit or other structure to protect it. </p></li> <li><p>Seeds are alive, but dormant. They contain all the nutrients needed to make a new plant. That seed will wait for t