Today has been really sunny but the trees can’t be fooled and have started to gently let go of a few leaves. After the awful Summer I’m surprised the trees aren’t hurling their leaves in disgust! The flowers in the Kitchen Garden are still plentiful but do need to be deadheaded more often and I’ve noticed that the vibrant colours are slowly becoming sepia tinted. I’ve started to collect some of the seed heads in paper bags and really hope that I can enjoy these plants again next year… it would be fab to have enough to share with others too.
I’ve been reading Carol Klein’s Grow Your Own Garden book in hope that it will make me more successful with propagation (don’t worry Carol, I won’t blame you if things go horribly wrong!). I really enjoy her easy going, chatty style of writing which mixes common sense advice and with realistic expectations. I plan to collect much more seed next week.
This weekend I collected seeds from (left to right) Scabiosa, Geum and Allium Atropurpureum. The main photo at the beginning of the post is Allium Sphaerocephalon. There is so much seed around the garden and, unfortunately, so many plants that I don’t know the names of yet. For now I’m happy collecting seeds from the “Furry Leaved Magenta Flower” or the “Looks Like an Orange Geum But Isn’t“. I have a feeling that I may be brushing up on some plant identification and learning Latin over the winter… or posting the John Doe’s for virtual identification!
I’ve been collecting seed as well – not as exciting as yours though!
I’m sure they are – did you save any of the scarlet flowered Broad Beans? I forgot to save any of my early produce… I was just so pleased that they didn’t die!!
No, I didn’t save any of the broad beans but I do have half the packet left for next year. They were too good to save – i.e. I ate them all! Hopefully, we’ll all have a better year in the garden next year!
It’s comforting to know I’m not alone in my quest to learn plant names! I hope you are successful with your seeds for next season. I’m not very adventurous with this, but maybe some day.
We can muddle through Latin together then! I know that it will make life easier in the long term as everything seems to have at least three common names depending where you live! Even if the seeds don’t work out, at least I feel better that I’ve saved a few from the compost heap 🙂
You can always ease yourself in to the whole relearning Latin phase by sitting through a few Harry Potter films. It all snaps back after that. And maybe as a bonus you can wave a hand, chant a command and they can deadhead themselves, right? 😉
I’m a really sad bunny because I actually like dead heading (especially when I’ve had a bad day at work!!). I will definitely try the Expelliarmus spell on the enormous thistles in the field next door…. or maybe take a herbology class or too 🙂
I would imagine, that with your skill in the garden, you need only get the clipping of someone’s fingernail and you can “poof” a new person. No wand needed!
Good luck with your seed saving – and sowing. There’s something very satisfying about growing new plants from your own seed (or is that just me?).
You’re completely right, pure indulgent satisfaction awaits… as long as the little tinkers wake up in Spring!!
I have just started getting into collecting seeds as well. I still have to do research on them since some need stratification and others can be sown directly in spring.
I’ll be making notes in the Winter and finding out which seeds are difficult to grow and which will sprout in the packet when I’m not looking! The great thing about being a novice gardener is that I’m quite expecting things to go wrong… so when they go right it’s exciting!! It’s also great having such vast experience on hand from other bloggers x
I collected a few seeds today as well. We’re on the same wave length.
Your photos are beautiful. Aren’t seeds amazing? They are stunning in their own right.
Your comment about the trees hurling leaves made me laugh. Nice post, PJ.
Your comments are always so lovely – thank you! I’ve only been interested in photography this year and I’ve been surprised at how much more I take notice of everyday things. Seeds are amazing!
Me too! The camera gives you a different perspective on things. I’ve notice so much more than I might have otherwise.
Ha ha, I doubt that anything could go horribly wrong with you behind the apron PJ. Those are interesting blooms in you first picture, what have you got there?
Oohhhh… you’d be surprised at how wrong things can go over here! I forgot to water my fig plant and it now looks dessicated with the poor little figs holding on for dear life.
The first picture is Allium Sphaerocephalon – they’ve been beautiful and even their seed heads are great!
LOL! I labelled geranium cuttings in a similar fashion yesterday… “pink”, “deep pink”, “favourite pink”, “candyfloss pink”… I shall have no idea come spring, but never mind! 😀
Phew…. you’ve made me feel a whole heap better Cathy! I’m sure that there are another twenty shades of pink you could describe so who needs Latin? Ha ha 🙂
You go girl!! : ) – http://mary-goingnative.blogspot.com/
I’ll give it a go – and thanks for including your blog address!
Fantastic! And I love Carol Klein’s style and approach too – kind o fdown to earth but passionate about gardening and growing at the same time
Carol’s approach is really useful for a novice gardener and I love her chatty style.
I like your creative plant names. Way more fun that boring Latin names!
More fun… and way more confusing when I’m asked what has performed well this year. One step at a time I suppose 🙂
Beautiful photos! I hope your seed saving adventure works out better than mine did last year. Saved what was supposed to be some easy plants and this spring, not one thing germinated :(! You sound like you are doing more research than I did though, so hopefully you will have better luck!
I’m not expecting mine to germinate either – I’ll throw them in the soil and, if they don’t appear, I’ve not wasted anything. If they do germinate I’ll do my happy dance and then panic that I have too many seedlings!!!
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Saving seeds is a wonderful way to let go of this year and look forward to next year. I’m going to try to read “Grow Your Own Garden”.. it sounds great!
I know what you mean… gardeners are very good at learning from the past, enjoying the present and planning for the future!
PHOTOS ARE SO BEAUTIFUL! I love the first one especially. Good luck with adding more beauty around you.
You’re very kind , thank you. It won’t really matter if things don’t work out because I’m enjoying the process so much!
I never tried to grow plants from seeds but it must be so gratifying when you succeed and see the beautiful flowers. I love your first photo, it’s very beautiful !
I immediately recognized the scabiosa seeds as I’ve been collecting them, too. I shoved a few of the little helicopters in the ground and they’ve already sprouted. We’ll see if they survive. Bundled a few into small, weird bouquets as well for enthusiasts like ourselves! Love your pix – the geum seeds look otherworldly. Isn’t it great the return we get on our investment?
i just ordered Allium azureum – we’ll see how they do!