My Bit of Heaven - by Kristl Walek

[Kristl Walek]

I knew it had been one of the best years in recent memory for Trillium seed this year---but I had no idea, just *how* good.

Organizing my left-over ephemeral seed for the exchanges this week, I was utterly awe-struck to discover the level of germination in the T. grandiflorum bags--hard to put a percentage on it, but my guess is that it is certainly over 75%. Sadly, of course, the T. grandiflorum will not be going to the exchanges (although T. erectum and T. undulatum will), as they have shown no similar signs of pre-winter sprouting.

Seed is immediately moist-packed after collection and cleaning (approximately mid July here).
This year, I kept batches of seed separate in individual zip lock bags (moist packed in vermiculite)

-those of well-developed seed.
-prematurely collected (slightly unripe) pods (there is some rumour that under-ripe seed germinates more readily).
-seed cleaned with or without the use of a bleach rinse (to test some theories about the link of the aril to internal infection of the seed).
-all seed was washed with dish-wash detergent in the cleaning process.

The bag I show you here was the first batch of seed collected. Well developed pods only. Without a bleach wash. Because there was a time gap between this batch and the others, I will not be able to report fully at this time on what the others will do.

[Maggi Young]

Goodness me, look at those little guys grow! 

[Kristl Walek]

Organizing my left-over ephemeral seed for the exchanges this week, I was utterly awe-struck to discover the level of germination in the T. grandiflorum bags--hard to put a percentage on it, but my guess is that it is certainly over 75%. Sadly, of course, the T. grandiflorum will not be going to the exchanges (although T. erectum and T. undulatum will), as they have shown no similar signs of pre-winter sprouting.

It was only with the arrival of my daughter's SRGC seed list recently that I realized that I had missed the window for getting my ephemeral seed to the exchange on time. Oh sigh.

Luckily, it seems I am still in time to get some added to the supplemental NARGS list---and the seed intake manager informs me that moist-packed ephemerals will, finally this year (hurray) be given the space they deserve on that list!!!!

This is to say that if anyone here would like moist-packed 2008 seed of any or all of the following natives of Ontario (wild collected seed), please send me a personal message with your shipping address. Otherwise the remainder will all go to the NARGS exchange:

Trillium erectum
T. undulatum
Sanguinaria canadensis
Uvularia grandiflora
Streptopus roseus
Dicentra cucullaria

[Kristl Walek]

My SRGC Friends,

I wanted to clarify something publicly (as a response to the private messages I have received about my offer of seed).

Even though I own a seed business---my participation here is as a private individual (and to share with you some of what I have learned about seed). Therefore when I offer seed to the list, I am not looking for anything in return, particularly not payment (seed exchanges somewhere down the line are often welcome, although not necessary either).

I can't bear to see seed go to waste---and the ephemerals WILL get composted eventually unless they get into good hands in a timely fashion. And there is almost no greater pleasure for me than sharing the wealth.

[Linda_Foulis]

Arghh!!!  Would love to take advantage of your generous offer, but being so in limbo, not even knowing if I'll have a garden next summer.... how frustrating!  I hope you're able to get these babies to good homes Kristl.  I can't stand to see good seed wasted either! 

[Kristl Walek]

just a quickie to say that all ephemeral seed requests were shipped today.

[Kristl Walek]

It *is* a white Christmas this year---this is not something we can generally rely on here.

And although we have seen a few bitterly cold days (-30C with wind chill), it has been a relatively mild winter thus far, although the worst months are yet to come. Today we are hovering around 0C, with a freezing rain warning in effect.

I have never been alone at Christmas before, so none of the usual energy was put into the holiday season.

Holidays past, I often constructed wreaths of berry-bearing woody species, not dissimilar to the ones pictured here.  Like the Maine nursery who constructs these, mine were usually made of  Celastrus scandens (Bittersweet) and Ilex verticillata (Winterberry)---two of the few plants that actually hold their berries late into winter in this climate. Viburnum trilobum berries also stay (often until the following spring), entirely untouched by birds.

This year, energy was lacking for anything extravagant, so a simple arrangment of Bittersweet and Viburnum was hung next to the front door, which will stay intact for almost the entire winter. The cleaned seed of these is already packaged and waiting in the seed drawers.

[annew]

Beautiful, Kristl. We'll be thinking of you this Christmas.

[ranunculus]

So simple, but SO beautiful, Kristl ...

Peace, love and thanks to you ...

[Maggi Young]

I understand your reluctance to get "festive", Kristl, since my darling Father died last Christmas Day and all I can feel is loss.

What a terrific gift you have given us all with your  Bit of Heaven.... I am sure I am not the only one who takes comfort from reading and learning from these beautiful pages.

My fondest thoughts are with you.
M
xx

[4moreaction]

It was only with the arrival of my daughter's SRGC seed list recently that I realized that I had missed the window for getting my ephemeral seed to the exchange on time. Oh sigh.

Luckily, it seems I am still in time to get some added to the supplemental NARGS list---and the seed intake manager informs me that moist-packed ephemerals will, finally this year (hurray) be given the space they deserve on that list!!!!

This is to say that if anyone here would like moist-packed 2008 seed of any or all of the following natives of Ontario (wild collected seed), please send me a personal message with your shipping address. Otherwise the remainder will all go to the NARGS exchange:

Trillium erectum
T. undulatum
Sanguinaria canadensis
Uvularia grandiflora
Streptopus roseus
Dicentra cucullaria







...I have to thank You Kristel for the seed of Uvularia &  Sanguinaria... arrived safely and are expected to be sown within one week...

yours: matti

[Katherine J]

What a terrific gift you have given us all with your  Bit of Heaven....

Very well told. Thank you again, and wish you all the best for the coming year!   

[4moreaction]

I knew it had been one of the best years in recent memory for Trillium seed this year---but I had no idea, just *how* good.

Organizing my left-over ephemeral seed for the exchanges this week, I was utterly awe-struck to discover the level of germination in the T. grandiflorum bags--hard to put a percentage on it, but my guess is that it is certainly over 75%. Sadly, of course, the T. grandiflorum will not be going to the exchanges (although T. erectum and T. undulatum will), as they have shown no similar signs of pre-winter sprouting.

Seed is immediately moist-packed after collection and cleaning (approximately mid July here).
This year, I kept batches of seed separate in individual zip lock bags (moist packed in vermiculite)

-those of well-developed seed.
-prematurely collected (slightly unripe) pods (there is some rumour that under-ripe seed germinates more readily).
-seed cleaned with or without the use of a bleach rinse (to test some theories about the link of the aril to internal infection of the seed).
-all seed was washed with dish-wash detergent in the cleaning process.

The bag I show you here was the first batch of seed collected. Well developed pods only. Without a bleach wash. Because there was a time gap between this batch and the others, I will not be able to report fully at this time on what the others will do.

...seeing those sprouting seeds of Trillium makes me so envyous of you guys in northern america... what a pleasure it must be for a sore eye every spring to walk amongst blooming trillium fields... =OP

[Kristl Walek]

Matti,
Yes, the large drifts of Trillium grandiflorum is surely one of the reasons why this part of the natural world is so special. It is that time of spring in the woods I most cherish.

[maggiepie]

The only trilliums I have seen growing here are the Painted Trillium.
We try to get out into the woods to see them before the mozzies arrive in full force.
Have never seen drifts of them though.