skip to main content

The art of sowing the whole seed pod/head

12 years ago

I did that with my bunny tails. The whole head sprouted this fall into a cute little bouquet. I hope it makes it through winter.

I'm doing the same with some malva and rudbeckia. The malva doesn't germinate that well for me individually, so I ended up with a few robust sprouts. I'm going to leave these guys and not thin them. I like to let the plants sort it out.

Have YOU tried this and with WHAT plants?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (11)

ontheteam
12 years ago
Echincea purple and white , Black eye Susana. Clematis auqilla
and it works awesome. i am going to have to try the Malva tho' it never grows for me..and Lupin.
pippi21
12 years ago
Seed sowing and saving by Carole B. Turner shows pictures of laying the entire liatris plume into like a trench and covering the entire thing and says that is where the next years flowers will sprout up. I want to try that. This is a great book. It shows you what the seeds look like and how to find them with a diagram of specific flower/plant. I'm going to put that on my Wish list to buy or look for used book for sale at library used book store. Good to have for reference.
Related Discussions
Transition from Arts & Crafts to Art Deco?
Q
Comments (106)
I went looking for images of those elements. Ribbed glass panels in cabinet doors is easy enough. Here's one in a bathroom vanity: Ribbed glass (or ''seeded'' glass) is also often found in period light fixtures: As for marquetry countertops, if you asked most kitchen cabinet makers for such, I imagine they would gape blankly at the gabbling woman. But there are plenty of companies doing stock and custom hardwood marquetry inlays using CNC laser cutters. Here's the thing - they are doing it in floors. Google ''hardwood floor inlay'' and see. Yes, many of the rosettes are infeasible for a 26'' counter, but look for the ''border'' designs - or create your own. Assemble a 26'' wide section of inlaid ''floor'' on a 3/4'' plywood substrate, encase it in Waterlox, and I do believe you'd have yourself a marquetry countertop. Another option - perhaps cheaper - is stenciling on hardwood, of which this is an example. And so is this What else? Beveled glass is readily available, as is chrome countertop edging, and any furniture or auto upholstery shop can cover a panel of 1/8'' plywood in soft butterscotch leather framed in silver studs (maybe not actual silver, but close enough). I don't know exactly what version of Art Deco you are headed for, or if you even like butterscotch, but the point is, you are not doing yet another white kitchen, you're doing something that isn't being done by the mainstream, so the ordinary kitchen sources are not making this stuff. Sure, there is cool Art Deco hardware around, but what passes for ''Art Deco'' kitchen cabinetry in the online catalogs is . . . disappointing. You are going to have to make it, or at least source it, yourself - and I think if you're comfortable outside the painted lines, you can. You'll find yourself hiring a floor guy to work on a countertop, hunting down the local hot rod upholstery shops, telling your cabinet maker to fit bathroom vanity faces to kitchen cabinet boxes - they'll still look at you like you're crazy, but you'll know you're not. Go for it, girl!
...See More
uk tole painting and some slate artwork
Q
Comments (25)
Both of you have written such entertaining things! Had me laughing out loud at your descriptions--which I know were much exaggerated! LOL I grew up in small towns too, in fact I graduated from a class of 13 in a rural Missouri school! The whole high school hung out together and there was no competition to be on any of the teams--in fact they begged you to play! Like where Anj grew up, we couldn't get away with anything because everyone knew everyone else. We lived on a farm outside of town and rode a yellow school bus. Had chores to do before and after school no matter what the weather was like. Could hardly wait to graduate and get a job in the big city--now sometimes I think I'd like to be back there to enjoy the long walks across the pastures, the baby animals, and fishing in the pond. I met my DH during the summer of my junior year while working in the city to earn extra money. He joined the navy and we got married shortly after graduation. We have one grown son who is married and lives close by with his wife and our 3 yr. old GD. We lived in Rhode Island, Texas, Kansas and Missouri. Finally DH got stationed in So. Calif. and we have lived here ever since. I worked in banks, so it was easy to find work each time we moved. I finally got tired of buyouts and mergers and retired a few years ago. DH is a railroad engineer, he gets to retire next year. We hope to do some traveling in our motor home, want to see more of this interesting country--each area is so different, and we've only seen a fraction of it. But we can't be gone too long at a time, since we have that little GD that we love to spend time with. I have always wanted to see England and Ireland. My ancestor's and my DH's ancestors came here from Ireland waaay back when, and I have always loved reading stories about England's Kings, Queens, and the Knights. So romantic in the books, and who wouldn't want to see a castle? LOL So hard for us to imagine that those countries are as small as some of our states! My DS and DIL went to both places on their honeymoon and loved it. Said people were very friendly to them, and the scenery away from the cities was so pretty. Such a sense of history too. DH says that we can go after he retires, but now I don't feel too secure about traveling overseas. We'll see. I think every country has great places to visit and nice people to meet--unfortunately, of course, we all have places and people that we are not so proud of too! I started on Gardenweb on the Garden junk forum too, then starting looking to see what other forums there were and came here. I was so thrilled when Anj responded to one of my posts! Then she gave me directions on how to post pics on here and we've had a great time sharing all our projects with each other and any one else who stopped in. We always enjoy chatting with new people, and love seeing pics of their painting. Each person seems to have their own special style, so that makes it really interesting. Glad you found us, Steve. We have enjoyed seeing all your creations and hearing about where you live. You have a nice sense of humor too. Best of luck with selling your painted items, and with "picking up the pieces" again. ;o) Luvs
...See More
Art: how much personal resonance:?
Q
Comments (81)
yillimuh and probookie, I'm running late but I just have to post: I think we need to schedule mutual house tours! I'm so with you, yillimuh -- most of what I've collected I've 'acquired' from thrifts, and that includes serigraphs and oils worth thousands as well as really well done, unusual paint-by-numbers. The three of us have similar tastes, and probookie, the Lady Godiva is delicious -- who did it? I have many three-dimensional pieces as well, including midcentury textiles and studio pottery/ceramic by PNW artists that was made for hanging and midcentury brass by some of the usual suspects. Even an African wood inlay piece of women going down to a waterfront with big baskets on their heads -- on the laundry room door, palimpsest : ) My taste runs from the most abstract to the PNW Mt. Hood landscape -- I like different things for different reasons. We also have a vintage aerial photo of Grand Army Plaza/Prospect Park and a map from when Prospect Park was being proposed (that we found out here, of all places--no one else wanted it at an estate sale so we got it for a great price!) because that's where DH and I got married. Not too many other sentimental pieces up, other than one piece by DD of the Nutcracker Suite when she was very young that I put in a huge rococo frame : ) I grew up in a world of reproductions -- those mdf-mounted things from the Met -- and posters. As an immigrant from the middle east educated in Europe, my father completely worshipped European high culture. Reproductions were the closest he could get. My American, Bryn-Mawr-educated mother had a few nicer pieces she got during her 'world tour' in the late 40s, but otherwise, that was it. The reproductions actually worked the way my parents intended, which was to have me growing up looking at excellent art, even though they couldn't afford it. Benjamin's "The Work of Art in the age of Mechanical Reproduction" was not only significant in a theoretical way to my professional work later on, but *so* personally resonant for me. I'm still amazed by his insight. I wish he hadn't died when he did.
...See More
Art Glass Wall Decor Over Sofa
Q
Comments (71)
This is the first I'm seeing of this thread. Love the glass. Not sure I'd be bold enough (and I love color too!). What's on the other side of the LR? Did you share your source for the glass? If you did, I didn't see it. I'd love to see a picture of them lit :)
...See More
pippi21
12 years ago
On Mr. Brown Thumb blog, he tells and I think he post a picture of him planting the entire coneflower seed pod with a few inches of the flower stem sticking out of the ground. He says it's the lazy way but it works but suggest you still mark the location with a plant marker.
bakemom_gw
Original Author
12 years ago
I think that would be great for liatris as I remember not all seeds are viable. This is one where you have to feel for the egg like gaillardia. I would definitely mark the liatris as the sprouts look like grass.
pixie_lou
12 years ago
I'm definitely going to try that with the liatris. I bought a ton of white liatris bulbs last spring, but since we had a wet rainy spring, they all rotted in the ground. Maybe I'll have better luck with the spent flowers. At least it won't cost me any money this way.
bakemom_gw
Original Author
12 years ago
Worth a try. Those who love liatris and want to try this, sow, mark, and report. Sounds like a fun experiment.
docmom_gw
12 years ago
I can't imagine Liatris not germinating. For me it's like a weed. And when I have wintersowed it, I get 100% germination. I don't know what specific variety I have. My seeds are from a plant that was growing at our cottage when we bought it. The seeds I've sent Bakemom for the newbie project are descendants from that plant. I have lots more I collected yesterday, or I could dig up bulbs if anyone wants flowers faster. In fact, I have volunteer sprouts scattered all through the garden that I could send. At least they have one year of growth behind them, but wouldn't weigh too much for postage. Let me know.

Martha
ivyp
12 years ago
Martha I would be interested in some of your bulbs for postage . I have had zero luck getting the seeds to go.
Let me know.
Ivy
docmom_gw
12 years ago
Ivy,
I'll dig some up in the next day or so. I've never shipped bulbs. Should I let them dry first? Leave the leaf attached? Or should I wait until they go completely dormant before I dig them up? I'l plan to send you some mature bulbs, since I have plenty. They'll probably benefit from thinning. I'll check back with a post soon. In the mean time I'll check with the bulbs forum on safe transport.

Martha
docmom_gw
12 years ago
I'm not finding much info on liatris and how/when to ship or dig. Maybe I'll just dig some up, leave the leaves on and send some seeds along just in case. If you plant them as soon as you receive them, I'd bet they'll do fine. I'll plan to dig this weekend. E-mail me your address and I'll stick them in the mail.

Martha
pixie_lou
12 years ago
I harvested all of the echinacea seeds I wanted a few weeks ago. I was out "cleaning" the garden this morning and had many more echinacea seed heads. Instead of tossing them in the brush pile, I buried the seed heads in strategic spots around the garden. For about 5 minutes labor, I could possibly end up with a dozen new echinacea plants.

I buried my liatris seed heads a week or so ago.

Related Stories

Houzz Interview: Miss Mustard Seed’s Charming Pennsylvania Home

GARDENING GUIDES Seeds or Seedlings? How to Get Your Garden Started

By Abundant City

Growing delicious herbs and vegetables starts with knowing your goals and when you want to plant

FEEL-GOOD HOME The (Lost) Art of Laziness

Do you go to bed with to-do lists flashing through your head? Try one of these ideas to give yourself a break

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES A Quick-Start Guide to Bird-Watching for Fun and Learning

By Alison Hodgson

Set out some seed and grab your field guide. Bird-watching is an easy, entertaining and educational activity for the whole family

FALL GARDENING Be Your Own Wildflower Nursery

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Gather seeds from your garden in fall, and you'll have a selection of plants for next year — without spending a dime

GARDENING GUIDES Unleash Your Guerilla Gardener

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Toss some seed bombs around the yard for easy, beneficial plantings

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Exuberant Self-Seeders for Gorgeous, Easy-Care Gardens

By Donald Pell - Gardens

Keep weeds down, color high and maintenance low with beautful plants that sow themselves

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: Once a Schoolhouse and Church, Now a Home and Art Gallery

By Rikki Snyder

Creativity and history come alive in attached 19th-century structures in upstate New York, and the local art community makes a new friend

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Blue Sage

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

True blue and adored by hummingbirds, blue sage is easy to grow from seed in a sunny fall garden

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES Great Design Plant: Senna Hebecarpa Puts on a Magical Show

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Furry white tongues that develop into seeds? That's just one of this bee-bringing summer perennial's many talents

Sponsored

Peabody Landscape Group

8 Reviews

Franklin County's Reliable Landscape Design & Contracting