Addressed all the envelopes for the native plant food security project and will be packing seeds this week. Will ship everything off on Monday.
The pawpaw and persimmon are partially cold-stratified already but since it’s winter, they should go back in the fridge as packed until spring. Boehmeria and physalis, follow directions on pack.
Really missing my redbud tree (Cercis canadensis) this fall. It had such beautiful peach colored leaves.
It fell over after successive tropical storms this fall. Arborist said it was near the end of its lifespan anyway. I searched all over for volunteer seedlings but couldn’t find any. 😔
#ThisWeek : #colour#foliage#seed and #sun (also rain!) for #SixOnSaturday a lot of leaves on the ground, but still colour to be found, especially in the understory and some plants /trees that turn later than others.
Top left Prunus- a plum variety growing well in the last few years-- after its pollinating mate died 🙄 Centre Ontario native Aralia racemosa ripened some berries, though the plants have mostly frozen down, now. #garden@plants#NativePlants#autumn#fall#Alberta#October cont---
Harvested the Passiflora lutea today. This is for the food security + rewilding project.
There are around two seeds in every berry and I collected enough already for everyone who wanted them. They don’t taste very good: sweetish pen ink with hints of dish soap. They stain a blueish purple. The flowers are edible though and can be used as a garnish.
This is your seasonal reminder that all acorns are edible. Some need processing, others do not.
In October, I will do a thread on Southern Live Oak, Quercus virginiana. These don’t need processing but do need to be steamed in their shells to remove the nut. Last year, house moths ate most of mine so they need to be well-sealed and frozen after shelling.
It’s related to the cucamelon (M scabra) and is also a perennial. Pictured fruits are ripe. When they turn darker green they are no longer edible and when they are black, are stinky and work like ipecac.
Please let me know if you want seeds to this when I pass out native edible seeds this fall. More in AltText.
This started as 3 plug size plants this spring. It's clearly something we are going to have to keep watching so that it doesn't take over. It is just starting to come into bloom. The flowers are just starting and should be more impressive soon.
Mine is a female tree but birds and squirrels eat most of the berries. The berries are awful, chemical tasting. 2 cycles of cold stratification needed to germinate seeds. Flowers smell faintly like honeysuckle with a little jasmine. Dried, they smell like floral fresh hay.