Ditto.
What a cute girl!
"THINK SPRING!" Seed Swap Feb 11 in Frederick MD
Thinking about the seed swap for 2013. Busily packing up seeds I collected in 2012........... Buttoneer. Stay safe good friends through this Hurricane coming in. Looking forward to the seed swap.
You stay safe, too! We need to see that big smile of yours again soon... Bob's, too!
Joyanna is learning about harvesting seeds, and, now that she's got the idea about growing them out, she's very keen on collecting them. So while we might not have a huge selection for the swap, we'll have some "collected with love" ones!
I ran into our Miatablu last night when we were out at dinner! She and Rick are looking great, and I'm hoping we'll see her around MAG/MAM again soon.
Stay sheltered & safe this week!
Speaking of harvesting seed.....Jill, I have been meaning to write and ask you how to harvest the unusual Zinnia seeds that I received from you last year. I have gathered some of the dried blooms, but don't know the next step. Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks doll. So cool about Miatablu. She was a very nice addition to our group and I too hope that she will return here at some point.
Ruby
I don't usually bother separating zinnia seeds from the dried petals.. I just crumble the dried flower heads, and as long as I can tell there are seeds mixed in there, I figure that will work! The seeds are oblong, flat, and dark, a little less papery than the dried petals... if you remember what commercial zinnia seeds look like, you'll recognize them. And although 'Zahara Starlight Rose' is a hybrid zinnia, the F2 & F3 offspring seem quite similar, at least in coloring. It seems to me that plants grown from the hybrid seed have a denser habit and more vigorous branching/blooming, but I'd sure save seeds too. :-)
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Picture+of+Zinnia+Seeds&rlz=1R2ADFA_enUS455&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&bpcl=36601534&biw=756&bih=394&wrapid=tlif135164733765610&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=dYCQUP-EKbK00AGQ6IDQAg
Hope this helps. Noticed they are also showing pix of marigold seeds but zinnia seeds are wedge-shaped and at the flower end of each petal.
This message was edited Oct 30, 2012 8:37 PM
Thanks, Button! I'd meant to come back and add that some zinnia seeds just fall out from the petals, others are attached at the ends of the "ray" petals -- and both kinds of seeds are good. :-)
Thanks Critter and Button......loved the page with all the beautiful Zinnia......I love any Zinnia it seems. Jill, I could have sworn that whatever the type of seeds you sent and distributed at the Seed Swap were actual micro mini small round seeds. I did label them when I planted them but the label has since lost it coloring and I cannot read what it is. I haven't yet had a chance to play around with them, but I am sure that once I sit down and start playing, I will figure it out and hopefully have a much larger container of these lovelies next year.
I have gathered some different colored Celosia already but need to go out again when things dry off and gather a few more of the salmon color which were new to me last year. I want more of those beauties. It may be after the holidays before I actually find the time to devote to sorting and bagging up seed. Still working on getting things settled in plant room. I have some how ended up with way too many Wandering Jew which have grown way too large for me to deal with. Need to figure soon what I plan to do with them.
Again, thanks ladies, appreciate the help.
Ruby
Ruby I love Celosia. This year we grew Red and Yellow Celosia, Ric grew them from seeds and they did very well. He collected some seeds from them. I really like the pastel colors. Bet those Salmon colored ones where very pretty.
hmm, micro mini round seeds wouldn't be zinnias.. the starlight rose zinnias were "regular" looking, maybe a little smaller than some but with the standard shape. Not sure what you had in that pot...
I snatched some wheatstraw celosia seeds when we were up at Catoctin orchard, mix of different colors 'cause I stuffed them all in one pocket, but they included hot pink, pale pink, salmon, cream, and pale yellow I think.
All the colors sound delightful. It just isn't summer if I don't have several pots of Celosia sitting around. The truly have to be one of the very easiest plants to save seeds from.
Ruby
You're right about that! Last time I had them in my garden, I just broke off bunches of dried flower stalks and threw them all in a paper bag... shake, rattle & roll... and there must have been a quarter cup of shiny black seeds at the bottom of the bag!
Visited the National Historical Farm, at Pawtucket Park off of the Indianhead hiway south of DC. This is a peaceful pastural setting that I think you would enjoy. Great place for a relaxing stroll. They have an experimental rooftop garden on top of the visitor center, and rainwater recovery barrel demonstration. Inside there was a lady who showed our grand daughter how to card some home grown wool in the process for making yarn.
http://www.accokeek.org/
The 1700s era farm has livestock pastures, old farm buildings, cottage garden, and a fishing dock out on the river directly across from Mount Vernon.
That looks like a great place to visit!
Your granddaughter is adorable
8 ^)
I was just thinking the same thing!!! Heehee
John, Your GD is just adorable. What a cutie, looks like she was having a great time.
Oh my goodness, she's a real Beauty, and such a cutie!! How wonderful to have your Little Gem enjoy this cool stuff with you! =)