seeds – Skelton Sketches

Making Seeds…

Posted on August 13, 2014April 29, 2017 by lindaskelton

Maybe it’s only after we have bloomed awhile…

and died to all that fresh-flung beauty,

that we hold seeds of wisdom to scatter for the next generation…

Macro-photos by Jim

Maybe the wisdom and fruitfulness of maturity–

–aren’t such a bad trade-off for the fresh beauty of youth…

That’s what I’m thinking this week as I collect seeds to sow and enjoy the season’s fruitfulness.

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The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair. Pr.20:29

A gray head is a crown of glory;
It is found in the way of righteousness. Pr.16:31

–LS

And for you, my reader, watching over the shoulder of my days, I pray “that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” Col.1:9,10

Seedtime

Posted on May 16, 2013April 29, 2017 by lindaskelton

I have in fact no new pictures this week, but seeing as it is time for the planting of seeds, I thought I would re-post a favorite set of pictures. If you’re a green thumb and game to do some guessing, please take a stab at what’s what in my macro seed collection. Pictures are greatly magnified thanks to my very handy husband. Enjoy!

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OK, so I think seeds are pretty cool. I save them every year in hopes of planting them come spring… pretty cool, but not really very pretty. Well, I had another look this week and Behold what wonders God hath wrought!!

What do you think this is?!

No, not a peppercorn. In fact it’s only the size of a pencil point…

Or consider this fleck:

A lizard toenail? Or a seed the size of a ground pepper flake?

Here we have same color, whole new shapeliness. Again, picture pepper…

Our next candidate may be more familiar–think sweet smelling fragrance but really only a fraction the size of a pea:

This one looks like a neighbor, only sleeker and smoother and found in the wild on a very rainy afternoon.

But these are getting boring. Now for something completely different, and no, it’s not a seashell!

In fact it’s only the size of a pencil eraser in diameter… Can you guess it?

Our next candidate re-seeds itself prolifically in my garden though I continue to save quantities of these pointy seeds just case. They are similar in size to a Grape Nut (or a grape seed for that matter)!

Here’s an innocuous little fellow, not an avocado though. Think tiny black speck again, like pepper. And it grows in the warmth of the greenhouse with the green peppers. Mmmm…. love the smell.

OK, here’s one I don’t even know. It may be a #2 that snuck it’s way into the wrong bucket but will have to remain a mystery till it shows its stuff… Pretty cool shape anyway.

But the scariest one is yet to come, are you ready?

#10

Oooo, hairy too! I didn’t see the hairs till magnified. Good thing people grind these up before they eat them! Look carefully and you may recognize this one. It’s roughly the size of a peppercorn…

And last but not least, here’s the one that got us started on this macro-scopic journey. Who’d have known that such a seed, making such an exotic flower and such an ornate pod, would itself be so cool.

#11

This one is also edible, seen on muffins, bagels and etc…

Here’s the pod it comes from:

And that’s the collection to date!

Care to guess what’s what? The possibilities (not in the correct order!) are as follows:

a) Basil

b) Sweet Pea

c) Kale

d) Sweet William

e) Poppy

f) Yellow Lupine

g) Cilantro/Coriander

h) Hollyhock

i) a tall perennial with feathery spikes of purple flowers that I have yet to learn the name of!!

j) the mystery one I have to plant to see if it’s just another #2

k) Swiss Chard!

And just to encourage you to try, there will be a seedy reward for the grand winner who correctly matches the most seeds with their respective plants…

Submit your guesses in the Comment Box at your leisure.
Thanks for playing ( ;

–LS

“He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.” (IICor.9:10,11)

Starting with Seeds…

Posted on April 18, 2013April 30, 2017 by lindaskelton

Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth…” Gen.1:29

[Maple tree in bloom]

And that’s how this cherry tree came to be all on its own in my flower garden (and former compost pile!):

Then there is horsetail with its spores and incorrigible rhizomes ever spreading and sprouting… But this is an exotic specimen, don’t you think?!

Speaking of seeds… it’s that time again (even a little late?!), to get the tomato seeds planted, but first for the pots. I discovered this super simple, no frills, no saving/storing/cleaning pots method:

Got Newspaper?

Choose the size and shape of your pot from any old jar or can. I chose a cute square jar this year. I love it that it never rolls away while I’m working with it!

Now roll it up in a lengthwise sheet of paper folded in on the long edges to fit your jar, with an inch or two to spare at the bottom…

Secure it with tape.

Upend your jar/can and fold in the bottom ends…

And Voila!

Your very own pot for starting seeds!

Huddle your clever pots in a waterproof container. Add potting soil and seeds. Label with permanent marker and water liberally from the bottom…And one day there will be seedlings ready for transplanting out of these compostable pots. Works like a charm. No pots to clean. No muss, and just a little fun fuss.

Meanwhile, I love the plants that just pop up and bloom unannounced when their time to shine comes—among the first to brave the chill of spring—forget-me-nots and yellow alyssum.

And that’s what’s happening at my house!

–LS