Let the seeds ripen on the plant. We're still a ways away from that happening. I started collecting mine last year in late August. The goldfinches will let you know when they are ready. :) Then, wintersow them. 3" of dirt in a container with holes for drainage. Pat them into the soil. Cover with holes to allow for air and water entry. Wait til spring for new plants. Chances are they won't bloom the first year, so hopefully, your current plants will return. I just sowed seeds Janie sent me today. I should have plants large enough to overwinter by the first frost. They'll bloom next year.

I have small quantities (damn drought!) of: Salvia guarantica (the species, cobalt-blue blooms, from cuttings) Salvia transylvanica (seedlings, will bloom next year) Tricyrtis latifolia (decent sized first-year seedlings) blue mophead hydrangea (not sure of variety, Niko maybe? gallon-sized plants from cuttings that should bloom next year) Columbines (seedlings of "Ruby Port" and "Nora Barlow," but as promiscuously as they cross I make no guarantees) Armeria maritima (sea thrift--pink blooms) Sedum "Vera Jameson" (from cuttings) Aster tongolensis (East India aster--divisions; this aster has compact foliage, blooms in late May) Geranium "Claridge Druce" daylilies (undistinguished seedlings, some tall in red/orange shades, some short yellows, probably Stella D'Oro offsprings) ditchlilies (could dig if anyone really wants them) Steven

We get them here in south central Illinois. We had one a couple years ago that stayed around about a year and a half then disappeared. We've had another one now for about 9 months. The odd thing is we only ever see just one, never a pair. They are busy little guys and hide a tremendous amount of seed.

The 2020-21 Winter Finch Forecast "It is also a year when red-breasted nuthatches are moving south in high numbers. Perhaps you’ve seen more of these small, charismatic birds than usual in your yard this fall already. I hadn’t seen or heard a red-breasted nuthatch in my yard for about four years. This fall, I’ve had three already. I’ve seen only one, and heard the other two. Red-breasted nuthatches have higher-pitched songs and calls than their cousins, the white-breasted nuthatch. It’s an unmistakable difference once you learn it. Red-breasted nuthatches are the more common nuthatch throughout much of New England, particularly up north. In southern New England, irruption years of red-breasted nuthatches are a special treat as they are not resident birds". Claire