Events

The Volunteer Coordinator at Denver Audubon Kingery Nature Center asked Wild Ones to do a workshop on native seed collection at the nature center for Denver Audubon volunteers.  We scoped the site ahead of time and focused on a specific garden with the most variety in species for the presentation to avoid running around to different locations.  

Participants learned about seed biology, native plant ecology, collection methods, and collection ethics.  We focused on "soft" collection techniques for a variety of species including Monarda fistulosa, Mirabilis multiflora, Berlandiera lyrata, Penstemons, Zinnia grandiflora, milkweed.  "Soft" collection minimizes the disturbance of the space while harvesting to preserve the structures for winter interest, habitat and forage.  We also explored how much seed one really needs for individual (vs commercial) propagation attempts.  Soft collection puts a check on hoarding and collecting too many seeds that could've reseeded in the area or acted as forage for wildlife.

Participants also learned about cleaning techniques--and just how "clean" a seed needs to be to propagate it (not very).  Finally, we briefly discussed the different processes required for different native seeds to propagate including scarification and stratification.