A little Late

I have been meaning to collect some seeds from some local columbine growing along the side of the road.  I finally did...but most of the seeds had already been dispersed.   Still, I was able to get a fair amount--even just 2 or 3 squeezed out here and there from seemingly empty seedheads.

Now, I just have to get around to sowing them--I think these should be "summer sown", not winter sown as I usually do.

Grasshopper, was interested...the dry, crinkling sound caught his attention--and he stole one of the discarded dry stems.  Then, he just watched me finish up.

Plug List

Perhaps it was the great, warm weather we've had for weeks--all winter really--that has had me outside even more than normal for this time of year...whatever the reason, I have been putting off creating a list of plants that I want to order as plugs from my favorite native plant nursery--Archewild in Quakertown, PA (formerly known as American Native Nursery).  I just finished composing a list and I want to post it here for future reference.

My list...although I want them all, those with asterisks *** are my top choices.

1. Eragrostis spectabilis   (purple lovegrass)***
2. Gentianopsis crinite (greater fringed gentian)***
3. Tripsacum dactyloides  (eastern gamagrass)***
4. Sporobolus cryptandrus  (sand dropseed)***
5. Fragaria virginiana  (Virginia strawberry)
6. Deschampsia flexuosa  (wavy hairgrass)
7. Bouteloua curtipendula   (sideoats grama)
8. Bouteloua gracilis      (blue grama)  PA ecotype?  I only looked at once source, but didn’t think it was native to PA
9. Tridens flavus  (purpletop)  Height? —one source listed it as 2-7ft tall...that is quite a wide range!

Now...I'll have to call and hope they are still available.  Next, I'll move on to ordering more seed from Ernst Seed Company for my meadow planting.

Still Not Finished

Even with an extra day in February this year, I am still not finished with my winter sowing.  Over the past 2 weekends, I have sorted through my seeds, and I even sowed the wetland species that I collected last year.

I plan to direct sow a custom mix of native seeds (including those that I collected myself), but I will also want to plant some of several species as plugs to add as needed.

Today, I filled four trays full of pots (from those that I purchased last year--and probably I've yet to post about).  I had an open bag of Promix in the greenhouse, and I bought another one which is still unopened by our sliding glass door along with a potted tray of last years seed order.  I'm hoping that they will all still germinate.

 Well, it has been a strange winter...but we will still have some freezing and thawing as spring arrives, so I am hoping my seeds will germinate with no problems.  Honestly, I am not even sure if most (or any) of them even need cold, moist stratification.

I'm looking forward to spring...and making more progress on the native meadow I have envisioned here for years now.

At it Again

For years now, I've collected seeds of native plants from my yard...and the roadside.  I propagate them...and as the years go by, I seem to collect more and more--I do have 2 acres to fill. ~smile~

Early this fall, I was out collecting things and waiting for more to ripen.  After a while I slowed down...I think I collected a bit more last year than this.  Today, while walking the yard, I spotted some seedheads of one of my favorite goldenrods--early goldenrod (Solidago juncea--I had to look that up).  Up until now, I've not included the seeds of Solidago species in my seed mixes--they have occurred naturally on their own, and through natural succession, the goldenrods do eventually seem to take over.  I want to include them--for their beauty and their high wildlife value.  I just don't want to speed up the succession process.  I'm making an exception with S. juncea...it doesn't appear to be one of the goldenrod species that tends to make huge stands.

I collected the seeds of the 2 or 3 individuals that showed up a couple of year ago--they've not spread on their own...and, being a favorite, I want many more of them.

Before my walk was over, I'd collected a handful of the goldenrod seeds along with some frost aster, and a few other aster species.



I'll add this bouquet to my seed collection.  February is fast approaching--that has become my traditional winter sowing month. 

That Time of Year Again

Yesterday, the first of February, I went out to buy potting soil and more plastic containers hoping to plant at least some of the seeds I collected last year.  Unfortunately, other things kept me from doing more than unloading my supplies.  (Looking back on this post, I hope to be reading it while sitting at the desk for two that Jeff and I designed to fit our needs--the project that took precedence over my seed planting.)

Today, I underestimated how long it would take to even prepare everything for the seeds.  After drilling holes in the 12 new containers I'd purchased, I went out to fill them.  The compressed potting soil was much more difficult to dispense than I remembered.  I guess it did take me a long time to get it all loosened up last year too.  Before I'd finished filling the third container, Jeff was already calling me in for dinner!  Oh well, apparently I'm ahead of last year...I went back to check, and see that, in the past, I've not potting things up until mid-to-late February.  I still have time.

I only got three filled, went in for dinner, and never went back out.

Actually, I was really early in sowing seeds this year--back in October, right after planting some of the seedlings I grew from last year's winter-sown seeds, I immediately refilled the containers with (loose) potting mix, wet them, sprinkled seeds over the soil, and covered them with a little more soil and a screen.  But, I really shouldn't brag, because last year was the first year I didn't get all of the seedlings in the ground before it froze.

At least eight containers of seedlings that were not planted yet.

They don't look like much, but I think they will be fine.  

These have been waiting for spring since October.

After weeks of unusually cold temperatures, the polar vortex, and the return of the polar vortex, we finally had a warm up--the low 40s...and it felt great!  It really did get me started thinking about spring...and it even looked a bit like spring too with the melting snow.  Who knew that my Greek valerian, Polemonium reptans, (a native plant despite its name) was evergreen.  I really should pay closer attention to these things.

I guess it is Groundhog Day; I should be thinking spring.  I have no idea what Phil "predicted", but spring is on its way...and each day we get a little closer and will see more signs.

The Second Batch

This past weekend, I planted more seeds...

I neglected to label some of the seeds I'd collected--I hope not to do that
next year.  I *think* this may be New York ironweed.  I hope it is.  Time will tell. :)

More little bluestem...maybe my favorite grass!

Trying to recreate the magic:

I had collected dogbane seedpods--I didn't label them, but I did recognize
them. :)  The seedpods were still intact, so I broke one open, only to see
the white fluff spill out like sparks from a magic wand!  I called Jeff over
to show him, and asked him to take a picture as I tried to recreate the effect.
(Thank you Jeff...you get credit for the above photos! :) )

I planted a mix of seeds in the original plastic window boxes left
by the previous owner.  I've used them for the past three years.
There was no snow to cover them with, but, at least for a moment,
 some snow began to fall...for a moment, I thought they'd get
a thin layer of snow, but the snow stopped as quickly as it began,
so I covered them again with screens...I'm not taking any chances on critters getting at them.

second batch...but, I still have another batch to go.

Winter Sowing, Step II

The next day, I took my well organized and labelled seeds outside, added clear packing tape to (hopefully) protect the labels from the weather, and then covered them with a thin layer of soil (except for the tiny Lobelia seeds), snow, and a window screen (just in case the birds, squirrels, chipmunks, or voles decide to explore).

I also started getting my other pots ready for the remaining seeds:

I'm really hoping to have more seedlings than I know what to do with...and then figure out what to do with them all--that fact is with 2 acres to cover, I'll not have enough for years to come.

That Time of Year Again--Winter Sowing

This past year, I collected a lot more seed than usual...and I traded some with a Wildlife Gardener's member from NJ (thanks again, Lori).  Although I could have planted them over Christmas break, it seems I've developed a tradition--or at least a habit--of sowing them mid-February.  I'm actually a couple of days ahead of schedule...but, I'm not done yet.

Last week, I bought some plastic containers at the dollar store and picked up some potting soil at a local nursery.  Today, I told Jeff that I was hoping to finally sort through my seeds and hopefully plant them.  He surprised me by saying he would help if I did it inside at the kitchen table.  I covered the table and filled the containers with soil outside (after drilling holes for drainage).   It actually turned out not to be as messy as I'd feared. We did a great job containing any mess...what little there was.

I have to admit, that Jeff thought we were planting vegetable seeds at first, but he was still willing to help.  Jeff specialized in making labels--he has better writing than me.  He also helped me sprinkle on some of the seeds.  It was great doing this together.    ~smile~   (Thank you, Jeffrey! :) )

I've never been this organized with my seeds before!  Over the past couple of years, I've just sprinkled the various species of wildflower seeds I'd collected in the same containers.  I figured they'd be mixed together in the meadow anyway.  I do feel good being better organized this year.

As good as that looks, I still have a LOT left...and a lot that is not organized--nor labelled.

I can't wait until I have all of these wildflowers and grass growing out on our property...building habitat and attracting more wildlife...and more beauty for us to enjoy.

More to Plant

This year, I've been more diligent in collecting native wildflower seeds (and some little bluestem grass seed) to plant this winter.  Aside from the quantities I've amassed, I received some seeds from a kind Wildlife Gardeners member who lives close enough for me to consider the seed "nearly local".   

 I sent some off to her as well--and she has already planted hers!

Thanks again, Lori. :)

That Time of Year Again

I'm a week late...at least based on the past two years. The other day, I finally planted the wildflower seeds I'd collected...and some that a friend sent me. Thanks Glenn.

Last year when I got around to planting my seeds, I realized that it was exactly one year ago to the day that I planted my first batch. Without checking the date until today, I figured it had passed. No biggie, I'm just glad I'm getting them done before it gets too warm--I want them to experience the freezing and thawing that should help them germinate.

With such mild weather, I thought I'd have planted them over Christmas break, but I never got around to it. After planting them, I realized I didn't see any of the "magic ingredient" around. Not that I'm superstitious, but I'd covered the last two batches with snow--partly so it would melt and water them and partly to help prevent birds from getting at them (not that I expect them to go after them). Surprisingly, after looking around the front (north facing) yard, I found a little bit of snow from where I'd shoveled the sidewalk.

Here's hoping I'll have a lot to plant come this spring--or fall (remember, I'm a procrastinator...and didn't get them planted until very late this year).