In 1960, David Latimer planted a spiderwort sprout inside of a large glass bottle, added a quarter pint of water, and then sealed it shut. He opened the bottle 12 years later in 1972 to add some water and then sealed it for good. The self-contained ecosystem has flourished for more than 60 years. The garden is a perfectly balanced and self-sufficient ecosystem. The bacteria in the compost eat the dead plants and break down the oxygen that is released by the plants, turning it into carbon dioxide, which is needed for photosynthesis. The bottle is essentially a microcosm of Earth.