In 1972, Latimer created a small garden inside a 45-liter glass bottle. He added soil, manure, and a spider plant, along with a small amount of water. Since then, no water has been added.

The last weekend of February, I made my annual pilgrimage to the Northwest Flower and Garden Festival in downtown Seattle.

Have you ever wondered how long a plant can survive without watering? The answer might surprise you. The ecosystem created by David Latimer has been functioning without a drop of water since 1972, and ...