Seed Snatchin' XII...Snatchin' Bunnies

I was wondering the same thing myself. You can't tell in the photo, but one of the leaf nodes does have a baby leaf coming out. The other does not. So I will do the experiment for us all and let you know. My other concern was that the top section of the cutting has only one root coming out. The bottom section is rooting nicely. So I'll look at it again and see what I think is best. I may cut off the top section and let it get some more roots before planting it.
Hey, I can always go back to HD. I'm sure more coleus are breaking there every day as it's so crowded. Heck, I may even find some on clearance about now because it's been so hot and dry here that potted plants are not holding up well if they are small and in full sun. Our plants are spoiled.

If you are concerned that there isn't enough root material on the leafed section, stick in back in water until it develops more root system. All that heat must be a bummer. We grow the cool weather crops here, and when we have an unusually hot summer, our flowers look terrible and our veggies bolt.

NC - yes! Her house is spotless! I used to be embarassed to invite her over, but she is actually pretty down to earth about other people's dirty homes!

Pixydish- I actually dumped some Siberian Iris and Daylilies in the woods across from my house a couple years ago because they were overtaking my perennial border.When I saw that they made it through the winter without even being in the ground, I went back and snatched my own plants! I now have a lovely garden under the speed limit sign in the strip next to my driveway! They are great for areas that get salt, sand, and snow pileup.

Folks 8ftbed took me out to his home today, to another fantastic home garden and we hit every garden center in wisconsin.
I had a wonderful time and am bushed.
sidney
ps details tomorrow!

Pixy, I think I would've just potted that whole stem deeply so the cutting could grow lots of nice roots quickly. But the piece with a tiny leaf may do OK separately. The top part will be fine, I think, even with just one root started... other roots will catch up quickly. I'm looking forward to seeing the foliage on your snatched plant!

I'm glad to get the reports about how tough irises are, as I have a bunch of rhizomes that I got at a sale 2 weeks ago. They're still not planted out, as it's just been so hot. I have them in a bucket (dry) inside where it's cool. Hopefully I'll get them out soon!

Yes, they are pretty tough, all right. I divided my red iris two weeks ago and they're still in the bucket. I just covered them to keep the hot sun off. I still don't even know where they are going to go!
I have to go to a nursery tomorrow to get something to fill the hole left by all the lilies that are past their bloom. I just love lilies, but when they go, they really leave a big hole!Maybe some delphinium. And then, maybe a few snatches of broken coleus!

Note to self: Plant more irises!

Can't wait for the update Sidney!

Nicole

Maybe I'm giving away too much about what a lazy gardener I am, but ...... I have a pot of Bearded Iris from 2 years ago, in the original pot that I have never planted! I never water them. In fact, I only noticed them two days ago because I was watering in places I usually don't because of the drought.The Irises are fine... no thanks to me! Maybe I will plant them today!

Well, they've been potted for 2 years, so I'm thinking add a little trailing lobelia, plant something kind of light and voluminous among them and call it a container garden! :) If the pot's just a plastic one, stick it down inside a pretty pot and call it good!

Super idea Pixydish! I think I really have to get them out of there because they have never bloomed! They probably don't even have any soil left around them! All I know is they are supposed to be purple. Mainly, I wanted to show that your dumped iris will probably thrive no matter how long they were out there!

Went to walmart today hoping they had marked down plants, but nothing. I was looking at the butterfly bushes, saw a variety that I didn't have, so snatched a branch and came home, used rooting harmone, and stuck it in a pot. Hope it roots.

a commercial snatch!!! love it

Shew, folks, shew.
Well, I just returned from a cruise on the Chicago River and then a picture snappin, snatchin stroll down Michigan Ave.
First I "purchased" a dozen plants yesterday when Blaine and I were at Milingers in Wisconsin.
Tonight I got 8 different Coleus, 2 kinds of ornamental grass heads, dwarf cosmos seeds, and a couple of goodies I can't identify.
I took 550 shots this evening and really enjoyed myself. This place is just awsome!!!
sidney

Summertime, and the Snatchin' is Easy! Looks like we're all in fine snatchin' form!
Today I went into a starbucks to pay too much for coffee and noticed a lovely lime green coleus with a dark stripe down the center in one of their big pots outside. Snatched a piece off the back of the plant on the way out! It's rooting in water.
Then, noticed some machinery by the extremely over-planted landscape by the courthouse. They had used a backhoe to pull out all of the cotoneaster and red barberry shrubs that were just planted last year! I looked around for someone to ask, but I think they were all on lunch and all the plants were just piled up in front of the backhoe. So I snatched all the barberry shrubs I could see. There were only three of them, and they are red and dwarf variety. They look great. I think they had been dug out in the last hour or so. I got a couple of thorns in the fingers, but it was worth it.

Then to Lowes where some of the special coleus had been pawed through, causing some small pieces to break off.

In all, a great snatchin day! Ivy, yep, the iris will be just fine!

Wow! You guys are busy snatchers! Hope you're having fun Sidney! Sounds like it!

I'm at my mom's today and then tonight head off to Raleigh to go see James Taylor with my dear friend Tracy. We're spending the night and coming back tomorrow. Will have to keep my eyes peeled for Snatches!!!

Nicole

Went to Burger KIng before taking my mom to the doc for her follow up -- happpend to notice thier marigolds along the drive thru we cute.. and making seeds. So I dead headed the seeds off to "help them have a longer flowering period" LOL!!!And then after the doc the hospital has nice plantings and I had been looking at this daisy like flower so we pulled over and I snached seed heads of each color - white pink and orange... LOL!!!!

And mom is healing well but willl need chemo.

Good snatch there, Heather! You'll have to sow a little patch just for your mom of all these bright flowers you found during those doctor & hospital visits. I've been keeping her in my prayers... sorry to hear they decided chemo was necessary, as I was hoping she could just be "done" now! Hopefully she'll be bounding around and entirely healed in no time (she's your mom... I'm assuming "bounding around" is her usual MO also!).

James Taylor is playing in Raliegh? - thats only three hours from here and noone told me? I have now missed what promises to be another good show. Seems too happen all the time though. Guess I caught my share of concerts in my youth & somehow the powers that be deem to keep me restricted to my memories of the shows I have allready been to. Have fun there NC.

A James Taylor concert sounds wonderful. I like his new music as much as the older stuff. Have a good time, NC. If you happen to have an invite back into James' dressing room, tell him a fat old gardening gal in Seward, Alaska listens to his music almost every day as she works among her flowers.

Boy, all you guys are really shifted into high gear snatchin'! It's still a bit early here for seeds and a bit late for cuttings.

Well, I went to Lowes today, had their distressed plants on sale, bought 8 for $8.00, all perennials. Then I saw a butterfly bush that had a broken stem, snatched that, and 2 clematis stems also. BTW, bought a clematis, in a dinky little pot, at $4.98, so I felt entitled! LOL

James Taylor still plays concerts!? I am so entirely jealous! His song "In my mind I'm gone to Carolina" is one of our 'falling in love' songs and I like just about everything he's ever done. Hope it was an awesome show!~

I, too, went to Lowe's and bought distressed perennials, but I paid 2.50/gallon size pot for them. Still, better than 5$. Got 4 delphiniums and 2 dark pink cape fuschias, and 1 astilbe because I can almost never pass them up.

I got a varigated iris for $3 and a purple million bells for 2.49!

Sigh. So many good deals on plants, so little time to get them all planted. Got 6 packs of tall white snapdragons today for .70 each. Had to cut them back as I planted. Hope they start blooming before the "Open Pond" day.

Our crazy renovating neighbors ripped their porch off yesterday, and my WONDERFUL DH snatched three pillars while I was out! I didn't even have to ask him! He's learning..... They are about 5 feet tall. Now I have to figure out what to do with 3 pillars. 4 would have been easier, but I'll take what I can get!

Stick 'em in the ground, wrap bird netting around them and plant annual or perennial climbers: Sweet peas, MG's, corkscrew vine, snail vine, etc. etc. etc. What fun!

All you snatchers, groupies, lurkers
Loading this thread driving you berserkers?
Grab your trowel and get on the bus
Here's a brand new thread for all of us: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/533992/

Cute, WZ! I'll be there as soon as I can dig out my bus transfer.... oh good, there it is!

I'll just snatch a ride with someone! :>)

OK, where's 8ft.

I'm coming, I'm coming!!!!!!!!

i'm present...
love those Alaskan pics Weez.

ooops, better take this off my watch list, thought it was the new one!

This message was edited Aug 1, 2005 11:02 AM

Hi Everyone. Great thread! I apologize if my question has already been answered, but I couldn't find it.....Does anyone know how to save Astilbe seeds and germinate them? I'm in zone 5a. Thanks!!

Hi, DonnieBrook. Here's what is recommended on the Tom Clothier site:

Astilbe x arendsii, chinensis, and x japonica , Sow on the surface at 20ºC (68ºF) in light, germ. in less than two wks

Astilbe myriantha, and simplicifolia , Sow at 20ºC (68ºF), germination slow

I've never had much luck germinating astilbe seed, so I don't have any good advice, nor have I collected seed. From the look of the blooms, I'd say you have to wait for the heads to dry, then shake them out into a bag or pie plate to catch the seed. Hopefully, someone else will come along with a suggestions. Have you asked about this on the Propagation forum?

I soooo want to read this thread. But when I first got started I noticed that it was a continuation of a continuation of a continuation. And that would be just plain wrong. That would be like watching the last episode of a mini-series without watching the first three. Or like reading the last chapter of a book without even glancing at the previous 27.

So I am going back. All the way back to the first Seed Snatching Mission in October of '04. I shall return when I am completely up to speed and the plot has indeed thickened!

La

Hi, La... it's worth the read! When you make your way back through, just post here again and we'll get the engine started in the old bus for another seed snatchin' adventure!

LaLa - I'm with you......I MUST go back to the very beginning, but I'm cheating now anyway.....I think I've found Like Souls who like to rescue seed pods from clueless owners who don't appreciate what they've got (how's that for a huge rationalization??!!) as much as rescuing puppies who need a good home. I'm so both of those! I now carry little scissors and ziplocks in my pocketbook this time of year.

Weez - ....and I too grew up with Weez and Weezie as a nickname.........Thanks so much for taking the time to pass along that great info on the astilbe. I have duly dunked my spent flower stalks into a mesh bag for hopefully some good seeds to spread. I'll let you know how they work........Would you think they need refrigeration first??

WZ, start up the engine! We need a new thread... it's prime seed snatchin' time!

My dining room buffet is already filling up with plates of drying seeds...

:-)