The wildflower season is over. Annuals appeared, plants bloomed, flowers went to seed, seeds were collected, and beds were cleaned up. This year, though, was my slowest yet with regard to harvesting seeds and cleaning up the beds. The first seeds germinated around December. The peak bloom occurred in March and April, though this years display was pretty unimpressive. Nevertheless, the pollinators were happy. Over the months, I collected seeds, and removed globe gilias, tansy phacelias, and elegant clarkia. This year I didn’t have that many poppies so I just left them in place to reseed. My method is to use large brown paper bags (supermarket type) to collect flower heads. Eventually I get around to separating seed from chaff. I use kitchen strainers to separate big bits, then I carefully blow on the remaining piles of seed to rid it of much of the chaff. There is much sneezing involved.
You are SO GOOD, Barbara! Looking at your excellent seed photos reminds me so much of John Mac Donald’s seed photos at RSABG. I do let my California poppies go to seed, but that’s it: the next generation has to fend for itself!