Brown-Headed Barbet

A pair of Brown-Headed Barbet has chosen to make our Subabul tree their home for the second year in a row. These birds are very difficult to spot in trees because of their Green plumage. But their distinctive call will let you know of their presence and someone with a keen eye will be able to catch a glimpse of the elusive bird. The pair is taking turns to make a hole in the tree trunk where they will hopefully lay eggs. They have been at it for more than three weeks and now the tree hole is big enough for the bird to slide into it.

Collecting Seeds - Pansy/Viola

Pansy and Viola are a good choice for winter gardens. Pansies are hybrids derived from Violas. Both Pansies and Violas look similar, they have some differences. Pansies have bigger blooms on a compact plant. Whereas Violas have smaller (but more) blooms on a bigger plant.

To save seeds for next Winter season stop deadheading spent blooms by Spring. This will allow the plant to produce seeds. The flower petals will fade and fall off to leave behind a green seed pod. At this point you may want to tie a fine net bag around the stem that holds the seed pod. The seed pod will turn brown and then bust open to scatter the seeds.

Store the seeds in a labelled paper bag/envelope.

Pansy Seed Pod after the petals have fallen

Seed pod bursts open to scatter the seeds

Collecting Seeds - Petunia

Petunia in Spring Season

 Well Summers are officially here. As temperature rises with the passing of each day, Winter/Spring flowers are dwindling away. It's a good time to collect seeds from spent blooms. I usually stop deadheading just before the end of Spring to allow production of seeds.

If you want free plants next season, you just need to put in a little bit of effort this season in collecting seeds. In the past I have had success in seed collection and producing plants with Petunia, Gazania, Marigold and Dianthus. This year I want to add a few more flowers to that list.

In this post I'm going to talk about Petunia seeds. Petunia seeds are very easy to collect. Allow the flower to dry up and fall off. After that the seed pod will turn from Green to Brown. As soon as the seed pod has turned brown snip it off and collect the seeds on a paper by gently pinching it in a twirling motion. Seeds are minute and Dark Brown/Black colored. You can get around 50 seeds from a single seed pod. Don't wait too long after the pod has turned Brown, else it will split open and disseminate the seeds.

Petunia Seed pods

Petunia Seeds

Once you have the seeds you can place them in a paper envelope or plastic bag, label it and store it in a cool dark place.