Today as I was walking to work, I passed by a Catalpa tree that grows wedged in between buildings and overspreads a parking lot. I wanted to get a seed pod so I could try germinating some seeds and grow my own Catalpa, but sadly all the seed pods on the ground were broken and muddy. All the pristine seed pods were high out of reach in the lofty boughs of the Catalpa. In disappointment, I muttered, "I wish I could get an intact seed pod". Suddenly, I heard a loud "crack" and a perfect clean seed pod fell from the tree and landed at my feet. I was so astonished that I said "thank you so much, Catalpa tree!" out loud. It makes one wonder if there's something to the old mythology of Dryads, Huldra, and Yakshini after all...

With its white orchid like flowers and parasol leaves, the Catalpa is a popular ornamental tree in the UK. This tree is commonly called the "Indian Bean Tree", which has misled many people to think it comes form India. In fact, the Catalpa is native to the Southern USA and the "Indian" in the name is the outdated term for Native Americans. Relatives of this tree are found in North America, the Caribbean, and East Asia.

The Catalpa has a curious relationship with a caterpillar. Catalpa trees are relatively pest and disease free due to the high concentrations of iriod glycosides in the plant tissue. The Catalpa Sphinx Moth (Ceratomia catalpae) caterpillars exclusively feed on the Catalpa and sequester the toxins in their own bodies, making the caterpillars unappealing to their usual predators. Research shows that one species of Catalpa (C. speciosa) reacts to caterpillar damage by releasing nectar from glands that attracts ladybirds and ants, which prey on the caterpillars.

Just placed a stickermule order for this bad boy!! Set to arrive next Tuesday.

Wanna help me offset the cost?? Do a preorder!! Message me your preferred payment method and mailing address- $9 including postage 💌

If you haven't had the pleasure of watching an Eastern Cottonwood (populus deltoides) release its seeds and "snow" in May, then here's your chance! It's a magical experience to be in the midst of 💚

Every year, the Eastern Cottonwood releases thousands of fluffy seeds into the air, for about a month. This is how it got its name "cottonwood", because it looks like clumps of cotton EVERYWHERE. They get in your hair, in your mouth, in your car, and in your food.

Tree Seeds

This is going to be short bc i already have a post up explaining this situation, but I started having seizures, which led to medical costs I couldn't handle bc I have an autoimmune disorder that's been going untreated for years. I got the appts covered bc of an extremely generous friend on here, and had some additional medication costs which I thankfully had enough for. I've been applying to at least 10 jobs a day and had tons of interviews. I'm going through interviews and assessments for several jobs (got more scheduled for tomorrow) Then my card got stolen, and now I am screwed as far as rent goes, even if one of these jobs comes through like today we will still fall short because rent is due on the 1st and we don't get a grace period. I am trying to get the money that was taken when my card was stolen back, but I have been told to wait to hear back after submitting all the details, and have yet to hear back.

Dm me for proof or more details. I will do art for anyone who helps with this and you can commission me at my art blog @theartistrans I just desperately need to get rent. My roommates and I have a huge food garden planted and are working towards self-sufficiency, which we have no hope of if we can't pay rent.

PP -- $C -- V -- kofi

$45/$650

© Tyler Doggett

IG: @ creatureofthewoods

Japanese Maple Seed Pod

mingkimelon for — @sunoofication 🍉

Honey locust with its pods hanging.

Seeds are miraculous little things if you ponder them... They contain the potential for a whole plant in a biological "time capsule". As gardeners in Europe and the Northern Hemisphere start planning their seed orders, it's a perfect time to learn more about germination. Germination is the term for an organism growing into a whole adult plant from a seed or a spore, and it is used scientifically to talk about fungi and bacteria as well as plants. A typical plant seed contains a plant embryo, food reserves, and a seed coat. Depending on the species, mature seeds can be stored for years since the plant embryo is in a dehydrated state of suspended animation.

In nature, germinating at the wrong time in unfavourable conditions could spell disaster for the new plant. Seeds rely on the signals from water, temperature, oxygen, and light.

Soaking seeds is an excellent way to start germination. The seed coat is gently scarified with sandpaper or a nail file to break the watertight seal and allow water to enter the seed interior. The seeds often double in size as their tissues soak up the water in a process called imbibition. Water activates hydrolytic enzymes which start the seed's biological metabolism.

Tree seeds from temperate climates usually need cold stratification to germinate. The seed is kept in soil at low temperatures around 4 C (like a fridge) for several months before returning to room temperature. This temperature change tells the seed winter has passed and spring has arrived. Simply leaving potted seeds in a cold frame overwinter is ideal in Europe.

Seeds along need oxygen since seedlings do aerobic respiration until they're mature enough to start photosynthesising. Hard packed or waterlogged soil may contain insufficient oxygen and stop seeds from sprouting. Many tree seeds need exposure to light through a thin layer of soil to let them know that there's a "clearing" in the forest.Most kitchen garden seeds do well with soaking and exposure to warm temperatures since they are originally tropical plants.

This plate of seeds was collected in January in Hyde Park, London.

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Shy Whimsicott hide behind their own fluff 🥺

they are like a pine tree to me... "veri what does that even mean" idk tbh but i mean it affectionately

Something about Ren getting posessed by the tiny crown that people aren't talking about is where the Tiny Crown came from. Bdubs crowned Ren in front of the Tree of Whimsy™, which, I shall remind you, was a seed THAT WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE SEEN BY THE SUN.

TLDR: Ren didn't got possesed by thr crown, he got possesed by a SEED.

🌸 Flower Of Life 🌸

Yes please!!!!

Growing avocados from seeds. Kitchen window view.