the art of seeds

Despite the fact that the past several days have brought us about six inches of snow, I'm going to pretend that it's not happened. So let's talk about seeds and play a bit of a game with them. 

I am always fascinated by the way the seedheads and fruits show themselves to be such works of artistry. Maybe they don't have the flamboyance of flowers or richly coloured foliage, but in their own way, they are beauty for another season. We leave a lot of them stand well into the winter, or until such time as seeds are depleted and stalks have tumbled.


Seedheads, with or without the seeds still in them, are pleasing by their geometry, and I'm happy watching birds feasting on them-thought I seldom manage to catch a good photo of a birds dining...


I took this photo a few weeks ago, obviously, so the seeds aren't yet ripened; do they look familiar to you?


I've cut stems of this particular perennial in the past and pushed them into Oasis floral foam, fitted into a terra cotta pot along with several other types of seedheads; I like the deep rich colour--do you know this plant?


I think a lot of people never see these seedheads, because they cut the flower stalks off before the plants bloom, seeming to think the flowers detract from the glorious foliage. Well, if you've ever smelled the fragrance of one of the scented cultivars...or watched hummingbirds dipping into the flowers...you'd never cut them off again.


This particular rose is considered invasive in many parts of North America, but I watch hordes of waxwings descent on it and it makes me glad of each plant's purpose around our property.


One of the most interesting perennials in our garden is this relative of bachelor buttons. It boasts huge flowers and remarkable seedheads, and then these golden seeds tumble out with the wind.


Another plant that often people don't see, because they cut the stems back once flowers are spent. Not all of them form such neat pods, but we always keep some around the garden until they collapse in the snow.


The autumn winds have whipped the leaves from many perennials, trees and shrubs here on the hill, but remarkably, this shrub holds not only its seedheads, but still most of its leaves. If you don't recognize it, don't blame yourself--it's nt the best of photos, because I was getting cold...


This particular cultivar covers itself in the delightful, bearded seedheads but soon they will be stripped by the breezes and flung to the cardinal directions. Meanwhile, other cultivars are not only still covered in foliage, but still flowering!


This is one of the best perennials in the garden, blooming for a long time and being a great magnet for butterflies, hummingbirds, honeybirds and other beneficial creatures. We did get a bit of mildew this year, a first for it, but that is a minor flaw in our garden.


I've shown both flowers and seedheads of this plant before, a favourite in this garden for its fragrance; I wish that the plant multiplied more quickly, or that it was even easier to find; nursery operators tell me that it's expensive and difficult for them to get. I haven't tried growing it from seed, because I dont' grow much from seed--something I plan to change in the future.


Some of these have relinquished their seeds, others are holding on; and my favourite was still producing flowers as recently as three weeks ago, until a definite cold snap sent it into seasonal sulking mode. Sort of like me. 


And this is one of those plants that is problematic in other parts of North America, like the rose above; I don't have trouble with it because I keep it pruned and out of trees, using the prunings to make wreaths, and enjoying watching birds snacking on the fruit until winter's advent.

These are a few of the more intriguing seedheads in our garden--how many did YOU recognize? I'm sure you've all got interesting seedheads too, and probably many of you are better at saving seeds than I am. That's a story for another day, though.