What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “These flowers grow right across the sand!”

Tati: “Let’s look at the shape of the leaves without stepping on the vine.”

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico wants to sketch the plant’s shapes. Tati suggests looking for three clues before guessing its name. What would you notice first?

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Meet the plant behind Abu’s basket. Bejuco cucharilla is a woody climbing vine, also called a liana. It grows with the support of other plants. Its leafy shoots and lilac tubular flowers offer clues to its identity.

Costa Rican craft references document cucharilla as a material for woven baskets. Woody vine material can become more flexible when moistened, allowing a skilled maker to shape and weave it. A basket begins with a plant and takes form through patient work.

In our story, Abu learned to weave from her mother. Now she invites Pico and Tati to learn too. Her family history is fictional, while the connection between this vine and Costa Rican basket making is documented.

Scientific name note: Kew accepts Bignonia diversifolia. Many Costa Rican botanical and craft sources use the synonym Cydista diversifolia.

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “An upright open arrangement of colorful bracts rises among broad green leaves.”

Tati: “Let’s notice the leaves, flowers and habitat without disturbing the plant.”

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico wants to sketch the plant’s shapes. Tati suggests looking for three clues before guessing its name. What would you notice first?

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico wants to sketch the plant’s shapes. Tati suggests looking for three clues before guessing its name. What would you notice first?

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Costa Rica’s national flower carries pink-purple blossoms above fleshy leaves.”

Tati: “Let’s notice the leaves, flowers and habitat without disturbing the plant.”

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico wants to sketch the plant’s shapes. Tati suggests looking for three clues before guessing its name. What would you notice first?

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Two bright red bracts surround tiny pale flowers in the forest understory.”

Tati: “Let’s notice the leaves, flowers and habitat without disturbing the plant.”

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Large split leaves with natural holes make this cultivated climber easy to notice.”

Tati: “Let’s notice the leaves, flowers and habitat without disturbing the plant.”

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico wants to sketch the plant’s shapes. Tati suggests looking for three clues before guessing its name. What would you notice first?

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico wants to sketch the plant’s shapes. Tati suggests looking for three clues before guessing its name. What would you notice first?

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico wants to sketch the plant’s shapes. Tati suggests looking for three clues before guessing its name. What would you notice first?

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico wants to sketch the plant’s shapes. Tati suggests looking for three clues before guessing its name. What would you notice first?

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Spiraling leaves lead the eye to a red-orange cone of bracts.”

Tati: “Let’s notice the leaves, flowers and habitat without disturbing the plant.”

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “A pink torch-shaped display rises on a stalk separate from the leafy canes.”

Tati: “Let’s notice the leaves, flowers and habitat without disturbing the plant.”

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Broad pink-and-cream bracts form a colorful upright flower display.”

Tati: “Let’s notice the leaves, flowers and habitat without disturbing the plant.”