Once upon a time...er...once upon a Virginia springtime, a gentle little gardener named Snow (er...BrightStar) was overjoyed when she obtained some dwarf sunflower seeds from a trade in the village. She immediately obtained the best potting soil in the kingdom...er...Lowe's...and placed them in the magic bean pots...er...styrfoam cups...and set them out near the magic mirror...er..the window... in the greenhouse. However...the window was open...and a mischievious fairy (or the wind)...swept one of the seeds out the window!
She wept...she sought for it in vain...
But, she rejoiced over the 6 dwarfs that were left. She named them...Sleepy (for the one that got up late)...Sneezy for the one that fell down when she sneezed...etc.
But, the 7th cup remained empty...
Actually, they all ended up empty. They all passed over into that fairytale land in the sky.
Except...the weeds in the empty lot beside the greenhouse grew and grew. They grew up to Snow's knees. They twisted and curled menacingly...and laughed at her tears over her lost gardening dreams.
But one day, a shaft of sunlight illuminated a spot of gold in the darkness of the weedpatch...it was the bloom of the 7th seed!
The 7th seed grew into the most beautiful of dwarf sunflowers. Snow watched it grow and greeted it each day as she walked to the greenhouse...
Until one day...HORRORS!...tire tracks from a monster truck crisscrossed the weedpatch! No spot of gold was there to greet her.
The weeds cackled evilly! They twisted their tendrils in the air in dark victory!
And Snow got down on her hands and knees and searched until she found the mashed and crumpled remains. She lifted its limp form onto the greenhouse bench...
And got the seeds from the dying flower, from the one and only bloom of the 7th seed.
:)
Fairy Tale Time: Snow White and 7 Dwarfs
APPLAUSE!!!! clap! clap! clap! Take a bow :-) Boy the seed trading forum has gotten entertaining lately! Is everyone itching to wintersow? It's like cabinfever in the middle of summer.;-)
Hoping thy seeds bestow "snow" a beautiful bouquet to gaze upon in the springtime.
This message was edited Jul 17, 2008 10:41 PM
Thank you!
I am currently going crazy "harvesting" seeds, like a squirrel saving nuts for winter. I can't walk by a plant without looking for its seeds...even if the plant isn't mine...I embarass myself in public places with my seed-nipping...I even jump in flower beds...
I have a couple of friends that are as bad as I am. I made a map for them today, of public places where there are cool plants to nip seeds from...
Same here. This is my first year ever harvesting seeds and they are EVERYWHERE! Today, I dropped my son's tennis racket off and I saw some pretty daylily and I "looked" for seeds. There was only 1! I have all my non-gardening friends promising me their seeds. No one is SAFE! .... and then I also saw some seeds on some Luna Hibiscus at Home Depot. Hehehe!
Yeah, I'm in the same place. I just place all my foxglove stems into a grocery bag yesterday. I've learned to keep mailing envelopes and my trusty black magic marker in my purse at all times along with a pair of clippers and a plastic baggie with a wet papertowel, 'because ya just never know' if a plant needs a little trim.;-) My kids think I'm nuts !!! now, why ever really?........ Lilimerci. If you want Luna pink swirl seeds, LMK. I might have some from last year, but I'll definately will have some again this year too. Andrea
OK. I would love that, very much. And if there is anything on my list that you would like, just let me know, drop me a Dmail.
The seeds that I collected at HD (so bad) was a solid pink, deep pink, almost red, but not maroon. And you know what else I saw that was so pretty, but the plant did not have any seeds to collect - the White Texas Star Hibiscus. Don't have any of those, but a friend of mine gave me some seeds from the red ones (Scarlet Rose Mallow?) and they germinated 100%. They are little tiny seedling right now...
and when I collect seeds away from home. I just drop them in my purse and then I put them in baggy right away when I get home. If desperate, I just use a piece of paper. My kids think I'm crazy too. They are embarrassed to go anywhere with me.
So good to be with likeminded people!
Those seeds are everywhere and I want them all! Never leave home withouth my seed snatching kit. Even go on seed snatching expeditions....
I'm so busy I almost forget to do the "regular" gardening.
Everybody things I'm totally bonkers about seeds, and they're probably right!
Ditto! It sounds oh so familiar. Even caught myself saving seed from a ripe pepper - don't need it, but it is habit I guess. Thanks heavens I'm not addicted to any bad substances! Don't think I'd be any good at rehab... LOL!
That was an awesome story!!! I too am guilty of taking seeds where ever I go. My kids are now trained to find seeds.
Joseph,
That will probably be in the fall sequel...
Mel
I was driving through Jack in The Box the other day and reached out the window to pick seeds off plants growing by the order box. I don't even know what they were!
Bonnie
Thank you, everyone, for your responses. :)
The seed-saving bug stirs in me in late summer ... then the madness of trading starts with the new year.
You see, it is OK that I go crazy picking seeds off every plant I walk by, because I do it for all those people I'll be trading with, you see. That makes it OK...
I thought I was the only one!!
Over the 4th weekend, we were up in Wyoming and went with the kids on a long hike up in the mountains. Dh got mad at me because I kept stopping to collect seeds! I coouldn't help it- droves of pure white Columbine, purple lupines, larkspur, wild phlox, and I even found a Checker Lily! I ended up doing the last 4 miles of the hike alone- which was fine-LOL!
Our HD seems to do a terrible job of deadheading....hee hee.
Kathy
KathyCo, what is a checker lily?
Anyone keep pruning shears in there purse? Its the only nice clean pair I have!! But they get a lot of use,,,,,,,,,Megan O
Check out this tree I saw in Key West. I looked up and there were HUGE seed pods! At least 2 of them. But I couldn't reach them. And I didn't want to get arrested while on vacation. It was at a very public places!
And here is a close up of the flowers. I am sure these are very common in Florida, but I was in tropical plant heaven!
Check out the plant files images for Red Bird of Paradise, Dwarf Poinciana, Pride of Barbados.
There are people at DG that have seeds for them.
This message was edited Jul 26, 2008 10:29 PM
I have successfully germinated 2 of them, but I have never seen seed pods that are so big. Anyway, my plants are itty bitty and they will have to be in a container, so I don't know when I'll see flowers on them. I have them in the ground right now, but I will dig them out when the weather gets cooler.
Sure has pretty flowers!
It may be Delonix regia!
You are right, that is the plant. The seeds are over a foot long:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/99282/
What is the difference between this flamboyant tree and others that have smaller seed pods? The flowers and leaves look the same to me. Although, I saw some yellow flamboyant tree with larger leaves (sorry no pictures), while I was in Tampa.
They may be different species. You cannot determine a plant by its seed pods only, you need flowers and leaves as well.....
LOL! Thanks!
I've been very "good" this year... so far. Though I have been tempted at times to collect seed in public places.
Last week we ate out and I saw one of the most beautiful coleus plants ever... I said to my hubby, "would I be stealing if I took a tiny cutting? no one will miss it" He got angry so I left it alone...
For the sake of my hubby I have yet to be caught in public nipping seeds and cuttings. But honestly who is going to call the police.
http://www.veseys.com/ca/en/store/fallbulbs/bestbuys10/checkeredlilies at vessey. LOL I thought it was only me that snatches seeds at stores. My dad's worse. He'll take ripe, expensive anthurium seeds right from the pot. and YES I do have a kit (individual ziplock bags, water, cotton, scissors, water bottle etc.) inside the car. lol my mom say I'm cheap, I say I'm frugal and innovative. So are you guys! sweett...
Jessica, I know what you mean -_-. specially wildflowers by my place. They think I'm some weirdo kid now, my neighbours.