Winter Sowing

 

Winter sowing with the milk jug technique

Renee has started some winter sowing. This photo shows the first set of three kinds of purchased seeds that she planted. She has two more jugs planted now with some seeds from her sister. While some folks use gallon jugs, we have half gallon jugs from 2% milk. Use what you have, I say. 

Here are what she has started:

• Asclepias syriaca, Common Milkweed: While we have a couple of Common Milkweed started in some overgrown turf/future prairie in front of the springhouse, we hope to add to those few to encourage the development of a  milkweed patch.
• Penstemon hirsutus, Hairy Beardtongue: While native to our county, we don't have any at this point. One advantage, once established, is that it blooms in early summer, a time when we don't have a lot blooming. It attracts a range of pollinators and is adaptable to a range of soils. 
• Agasache scrophulariifolia, Purple Giant Hyssop: I came back from the national NMRA convention in Novi last summer, raving about my friend's Hyssops. I stayed at Brad and Harriet's outside of Erie, and Harriet showed me around her native plants. Her Hyssops were in bloom, apparently hadn't been eaten by deer, and were covered by bees. They live outside Erie, but I was impressed that their deer had left the plants alone, so I talked Renee into trying them here. 
• Asclepias incarnata, Swamp Milkweed: These seeds were gathered by Renee's sister last fall. We have a few Swamp Milkweed plants along with some Queen of the Prairie in a ditch along our driveway. That area often fills up with water for a number of days, but some Swamp Milkweed has done well there. If we have more than just one or two starts from the seeds, we may try another spot for them also.
• Asclepias tuberosa, Butterfly Milkweed: More seeds from Renee's sister's garden. Above the ditch is a dry, sandy area where we have one Butterfly Milkweed. I think the plan is to add a few more, hoping that they get established. 

Harriet's Hyssops last July

Our largest Milkweed last summer with a Milkweed Bug