Seeds of Promise

Whatever the thermometer may say, the shortening days and dates on the calendar tell us fall is here. Plants know it too, and those that peak in the summer months are now putting out seeds to ensure they'll be around next summer. This is a great time to gather seeds you may want to share with friends (and vice versa) or for those plants you want to spread to a new location in the garden. Here are some of the seeds we've been gathering:

Partridge Pea (Chamaechrista fasciculata):

Sicklepod (Senna obtusifolia L.):

Yellowtop (Flaveria linearis):

Sunshine Mimosa (Mimosa strigillosa):

Some of our favorite My Florida Backyard native wildflowers have grown and spread prodigiously from seed alone, especially Blanket Flower (Gaillardia). Starting wildflower seeds is a little different (and much easier) than starting seeds of the more cultivated plants. Wildflower seeds can simply be sown where you want them, as long as you do it at the right time of year (December is great in Central Florida) and provide them adequate soil conditions for growth. For great information on sowing wildflower seeds and also a fantastic source to buy seeds you haven't been able to get your hands on, visit the Florida Wildflower Growers Cooperative website.

What wildflowers do you love to grow from seed? Do you have any "secret" seed sources you're willing to share? Come on, spread the wildflower love!