Last Cosmos...

Winter comes slowly to us here in North Central Florida...Annuals are fading, their flowers start looking tired and spent. Energy is directed to seed production. This makes the birds very happy as other creatures that depend on the rich bounty of seeds at this time of the year. My plastic bags of collected seeds take up way too much space on the kitchen counters, requiring a rearranging each time a meal is prepared. Time to plant them.

Some of the seeds will find homes in my Native Wildflower/Plant gardens. Others will be sown with not much forethought onto ground that is county right-of-way, or gifted to Neighbors and other Friends. Important to plant them now...so they won't germinate until early spring. Plant seeds too early...young plants will emerge just in time to be killed by cold weather. Plant them too late...baby plants won't develop enough of a root system to survive our brutal Summer Heat. Mother knows exactly the best time to sow seeds...I take my cue from Her.