Seed Saving Time

Hi All. Sad to say, my dye garden is starting to wind down. The indigo is setting seeds. The coriopsis tinctora is finally slowing down on the bloom production. I was out in the garden this morning tying string around the flowers that had the best characteristics. Color, size, bloom production... so I can be sure to collect next years seeds from the best possible seed stock. I also tagged a few of the best BES plants so I can dig them up to take with me when I move. I was looking for bloom size, petal color, center size vs petal size, and resistance to powdery mildew (a REAL issue around here)

The Hopi Black Dye Sunflower seeds are drying on the rack now. I still need to find out how to store them (if they need cold, should I add a drying agent to the bag,...). The big winner this season of the plants I tried for the first time was the sulfer cosmos. The amazing shades of orange were a wonderful surprise. I have tagged plants that I'm collecting seed from (bloom size, plant size/bloom production, and bloom color). So, I'll know which ones are "special".

I'm going to try planting them in different beds to see if I can't cultivate plants that produce just the way I want them to. I figure it will take several generations to get the right stock.

I'm slowly gathering up a nice supply of naturally dyed fiber. I'm trying the BES again today (followed by the jewel weed and the goldenrod). I haven't spun anything. I still need to get some silk for mixing and some seacel for blending with the cotton (IF I manage to grow any). I'll post pictures if I get results worth looking at.

Till later, live well and dye happy!
Leah