Seed Harvesting: Columbine

A big part of gardening is learning how plants work. Most plants are pollinated by wind, insects or animals. The point of pollination is to fertilize the plant so it produces seeds. After the flower has been fertilized the petals wilt away because they are no longer needed for attracting pollinators and then the seed develops at the base of the flower.

This is usually when you would deadhead the spent flower in order to keep your plant blooming. But if you allow a few of these spent blooms to take their natural course, you will be rewarded with seeds! 

Learning how to harvest the seeds from your plants is very exciting and rewarding. 

Blooming Columbine

I came across a Columbine, Aquilegia plant in the garden the other day which had not been deadheaded at all. It was full of dried pods full of seeds. Very exciting!

Columbine seed pod

The pods should be crispy and brown. If they are still green and not open then the seeds are not ready yet.

Each chamber of the pod is full of many seeds! They should fall right out very easily. If the chambers are still closed, wait a week.

I collected hundreds of seeds from one plant.

I made my own seed envelopes out of post-it notes. There's a tutorial here. 

If you have different types of Columbines in your yard, they will readily hybridize with the help of pollinators. The seeds you collect from one plant may not look like the parent plant when it blooms, but a mixture of different types you may have in your yard. 

Columbine seeds are easy to grow directly sowed in the ground. Plant them in a shady spot in your yard for spring germination. They may not get flowers the first year but should peak out by the second. 

Mosquito Repelling Garden

It finally feels like summer this week! Time to get outside for cookouts, bike rides, laying in the grass, and ice cream cones! 

But it also means,

THEY’RE BACK!

Mosquitoes >:/

Ruiners, that’s what they are. But there is hope! There are some plants you can use in your yard, on your stoop, or even in your window that may help keep these buggers at bay. Here is a list of a few plants that are known to repel mosquitoes.

CITRONELLA GRASS

Yes, that citronella candle and spray you have are derived from the plant citronella. It is a perennial grass that has a strong aroma. This aroma masks other smells (you!) so mosquitos won't be attracted to things (you!) around it. The plant itself is much stronger than the repellents derived from it.

ROSEMARY

You are growing rosemary anyway, for flavoring your yummy dishes, right? Great! because rosemary’s nice woody scent, that we enjoy, keeps mosquitoes away. It also repels cabbage moths and carrot flies, so it’s a great addition to any edible garden.

BASIL

Basil! Glorious basil! Ah, I love the smell of basil. Pesto sauce isn't too shabby either. But basil just got even better. According to a study put out in 2009, the essential oils produced by the herb are toxic to mosquito larvae. Glorious.

 CATMINT/CATNIP

According to Science Daily, “Researchers report that nepetalactone, the essential oil in catnip that gives the plant its characteristic odor, is about ten times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET — the compound used in most commercial insect repellents”. It smells great and also has pretty purple flowers.  Enough said?

 LAVENDER

Lavender is a beautiful herb with many uses. It’s also another plant with a scent that is great to us but that mosquitoes just aren’t into. It also repels moths and flies.

 LEMON BALM

Lemon balm is another multi-use herb. You can eat it, have it in some tea, or rub it on your skin to keep those mosquitoes away! Lemon balm contains the compound citronellal, which is similar to the compounds found in citronella.

MARIGOLDS

Marigolds are a great addition to your garden. They are bright flowers that many use in edible gardens to repel aphids from their tomato plants. They also repel mosquitoes. They contain a compound called pyrethrum, which is found in many insect repellents. Bugs really aren't into these flowers. Better for us!

Don't let those pesky mosquitoes ruin your summer fun. Try planting some of these gems to help out and avoid dousing your body in nasty chemicals to scare them away!