“The flowers of tomorrow are the seeds of today.” ~ Ancient proverb

    With less than a month of summer left, it is time to prepare for our fall landscapes. A little planning now will keep your garden growing. The temperature may not be cooling just yet, but improving our soil, cleaning our beds, and saving seeds will provide a strong start for spring.

    The splendid blooms of bougainvillea, hydrangea, zinnia, lantana, and echinacea color late summer landscapes in a kaleidoscope of spectacle that teases the senses. For years I have cut bouquets of hydrangea to dry and saved seeds of zinnia. I have not saved seeds of echinacea because the birds, specifically goldfinches, love to eat these seeds, and I love my garden filled with birds. But this year, I am saving seeds while leaving a few samples for my feathered friends. 
    
    One of the best ways to save money in the garden is to save seeds. For most plants, just clip, gather, dry, and save the seeds in an envelope or brown paper bag.

    Here are the steps to saving echinacea seeds for sowing.

FIRST: Identify Readiness

    Seeds are ready to harvest when the plant is finished blooming, and petals fall off naturally.

    Look at the cone at the top of the flower. Is it dry, brownish, and hard? If it is spongy or green, the seeds are not ready yet.

SECOND: Harvesting Seeds

    Using garden clippers, cut the stem two or three inches below the dried seed head.

    Lay the seed heads on a cookie sheet or cardboard for a few days to ensure the seeds are completely dry.

THIRD: Extracting the Seeds

    Wear gloves as the cones are spiky and prickly. 

    Get a bowl, tray, or other container and break the cones apart. Sharp, needle-like chaff will be mixed with tiny brown seeds. Use tweezers to separate the seeds from the chaff. Another method is to put the cones in a paper bag or jar with a lid. Shake vigorously until seeds are dislodged. Discard as much chaff as possible.

FOURTH: Storage and Germination Preparation

    Place seeds in an airtight container, paper bag, mason jar, or envelope. Label with the name and year.

    Cold stratification is the secret to echinacea germination for spring planting. The easiest way is to put your container, bag, jar, or envelope in the refrigerator for 90 days before planting. The cold helps with breaking dormancy. Common purple coneflower can be sown directly without cold stratification. Scattering seeds in October through December allows for natural cold stratification during winter months, with seeds breaking dormancy for early spring sprouting. (Zinnias do not like cold stratification, so don’t put those seeds in the refrigerator.) Otherwise, scatter seeds when the danger of frost has passed in the spring for a stunning summer display.

    Other flowers that benefit from saving seeds include marigolds, cosmos, poppies, snapdragons, nigella, bachelor’s buttons, sunflowers, and calendulas. Cut the finished flower heads on a hot, sunny day. Dry completely, as moisture will mold and ruin the seeds. Save and label the seeds as directed for echinacea and store in a dark, dry place to sow next spring.

    From your saved seeds, enjoy fanciful flowers “tomorrow.”

Cynthia Brian’s Goddess Gardener Guide for September

• ADD a bench to your flower garden for a relaxing place to perch.
• CONTINUE harvesting tomatoes, peppers, beans, eggplant, cucumbers, zucchini, and other summer favorites.
• PLANT a pot of red, yellow, and orange lantana for an upbeat patio palette.
• FREEZE, can, or share extra bounty of vegetables and fruits.
• PREPARE garden beds for planting cool-season crops of lettuce, spinach, kale, beets, carrots, and radishes.
• REFRESH mulch to protect plant roots, retain moisture, and deter weeds.
• COMPOST to improve your soil and replenish nutrients. 
• CLEAN the garden, discarding diseased and spent plants to reduce pests. Do not compost diseased plants.
• GATHER seeds of zinnia, echinacea, and other annuals to scatter in late fall or early spring.
• HARVEST ripe, sweet, crunchy apples.
• CUT branches of bougainvillea for a bouquet, being careful of the thorns. Wear gloves when working with prickly flowers.
• PREVENT the bacterial infection of tetanus by getting a vaccine. Tetanus is on the rise in the United States. The microorganisms are found in soil, manure, and rust…all places gardeners encounter.
• DEEP soak magnolia and redwoods.
• DRY hydrangea stems as a fabulous focal flower to decorate throughout the year.
• VISIT “Native Plant Extravaganza” with the Bringing Back the Natives Tour and Green Home Features Showcase on Sept. 12, rain or shine, or picnic on Sept. 20. https://bringingbackthenatives.net/native-plant-extravaganzas-2023

Happy Gardening! Happy Growing!