Goldenseal, and much more…
It is always interesting to see that some species always germinate at about the same time the mother plants emerge in the garden. Hydrastis canadensis, the goldenseal, is one of them. The seeds have started to germinate last week, at the same time the plants started to appear in the garden.
In order to offer more seeds, we have to increase our stock (conservation through propagation ;) plus they are such delightful plants to grow.
Because there are always questions regarding the seeds collections, the goldenseal fruits mature somewhere at the beginning of August (in this region/ also depending on the weather). So, they could be available in the September update of the Seeds List.
With regret, we cannot answer questions like: When….seeds will be available? simply because no one can tell.
The collection of seeds it is always under the influence of weather conditions (and various garden/woodland critters). For those interested to purchase or to collect their own seeds, here are few species to keep an eye upon during May and June in SW Ontario (with a margin of +/- 2 weeks).
In some years there are seeds from all, but most often not all are setting seeds/can be collected regularly.
May:
Corydalis solida and other species of Corydalis, Eranthis
Hepatica americana and H. acutiloba, Claytonia virginica, Dirca palustris
June:
Asarum canadense, Sanguinaria canadensis, Anemonella thalictroides
Erythronium americanum, Stylophorum diphyllum, Anemone quinquefolia
Lonicera canadensis, various Viola species, Polygala paucifolia…
Many trees are expanding their leaves, but the weather has remained cool and probably some seeds will mature later than usual. Stylophorum diphyllum is blooming; Uvularia grandiflora is just starting and we can look forward to a prolonged show of Trillium grandiflorum. If you want an early flowering Clematis, you can always count on C. occidentalis.
I also have to mention that the first blooms of Paeonia japonica are opening! The nearby Viola sororia fo. priceana was looking gorgeous, and to not discriminate, I took a picture. And wait, Glaucidium is also starting to bloom!
On the sunny side: Papaver chakassicum decided to keep company to the little Iris suaveolens f. rubromarginata ex. Dobrogea. Pulsatillas are still flowering and there will be many more flowers to come!
