#seed dormancy

[botanyone]

Fire, Heat, and Light Shape the Survival of Seeds in Brazil’s Rocky Ecosystems

Rock outcrops are challenging environments where unique and diverse plant species have evolved. These species have adapted to survive in nutrient poor soils, high temperatures, and limited water availability. But how do they manage to do that? A recent study, published in Annals of Botany, explored the factors influencing seed germination and survival in Brazilian rock outcrop ecosystems, known…

[tenth-sentence]

Seed dormancy is an intrinsic temporal block to the completion of germination that provides additional time for seed dispersal over greater geographic distances, or for seasonal dormancy cycling in the soil seed bank (described later in the chapter).

"Plant Physiology and Development" int'l 6e - Taiz, L., Zeiger, E., Møller, I.M., Murphy, A.

[biology-geology-beaches-india]

The Science Research Diaries of S. Sunkavally. Page 263.

[whats-in-a-sentence]

Figure 18.6A shows the effects of chilling on apple seed germination. (...) The effect of the duration of after-ripening on the germination of seeds of Nicotiana plumbaginifolia is shown in Figure 18.6B.

"Plant Physiology and Development" int'l 6e - Taiz, L., Zeiger, E., Møller, I.M., Murphy, A.

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Hello, I was wondering if you had anything writing notes related to winter such as vocabulary, phrases, etc.

Word List: Winter

Winter—the season between autumn and spring comprising in the northern hemisphere usually the months of December, January, and February or as reckoned astronomically extending from the December solstice to the March equinox; the colder half of the year; a period of inactivity or decay

Dead of winter - the middle of the winter

Midwinter - the winter solstice; the middle of winter

Nuclear winter - the chilling of climate that is hypothesized to be a consequence of nuclear war and to result from the prolonged blockage of sunlight by high-altitude dust clouds produced by nuclear explosions

Outwinter - to stay outdoors in winter

Winterberry - an eastern North American shrub (Ilex verticillata) of the holly family with axillary flowers, usually bright red berries, and deciduous leaves that turn black in the fall; called also black alder

Winterbloom - witch hazel; azalea

Winterbound - restrained (as from a favored sport or other outdoor activity) by winter

Winterbourne - a stream that flows only or chiefly in winter

Wintercreeper - an evergreen shrubby, trailing, or climbing euonymus (Euonymus fortunei) that is widely cultivated as an ornamental in several horticultural varieties differing chiefly in habit or in form or color of leaves

Winterer - one that winters; specifically: a winter resident or visitor

Winterfeed - livestock feed for winter use

Wintergreen - any of a genus (Pyrola of the family Ericaceae, the heath family) of evergreen perennial herbs (such as the shinleafs) that have basal leaves and racemose flowers; any of a genus (Gaultheria) of evergreen plants of the heath family

Winter-hardy - hardy in respect to winter conditions; especially: able to withstand much cold

Winterim - an intersession at some colleges and universities chiefly in January

Winterish - suitable to winter; suggestive of winter; somewhat wintry

Winterize - to make ready for winter or winter use and especially resistant or proof against winter weather

Winter-kill - to kill (a plant or part of a plant) by exposure to winter conditions; to die as a result of exposure to winter conditions

Winterless - free from winter; not characterized by wintery conditions (as of weather)

Winterlong - excessively or tiresomely long

Winterpea - a peavine (Lathyrus hirsutus) with densely silky pods that is native to the Mediterranean region but introduced into the U.S. as a green manure or winter forage crop

Winter savory - a perennial European mint (Satureja montana) with leaves used for seasoning

Wintertide - wintertime

Winterward - in the direction of winter

Winterweed - weedy plant that remains green during winter

Wintry - of, relating to, or characteristic of winter

The concept of winter in European languages is associated with the season of dormancy, particularly in relation to crops; some plants die, leaving their seeds, and others merely cease growth until spring. Many animals also become dormant, especially those that hibernate; numerous insects die.

Sources: 1 2 ⚜ More: Word Lists

Hope this helps with your writing!

[robin-evry]

Hiiiiiii !!!! Could I please ask for half-flower (rose) yuu? ♡

Sure thing, ask and you shall receive

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐔𝐔 𝐈𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐅 𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑 / 𝐍𝐘𝐌𝐏𝐇 🌹🥀

A nymph (Ancient Greek: νύμφη, romanized: nýmphē; Attic Greek: [nýmpʰɛː]; sometimes spelled nymphe) is a minor female nature deity in ancient Greek folklore. Distinct from other Greek goddesses, nymphs are generally regarded as personifications of nature; they are typically tied to a specific place, landform, or tree, and are usually depicted as maidens.

I know this isn't what you ask for, but I decided to modify it a little to have a little background, I chose nymph due to them being a personification of nature, so this yuu will be a nymph that is the personification of the flower rose

( English is not my first language )

Yuu's appearance is deeply tied to the rose motif. They have half of their body adorned with intricate rose patterns, where thorny vines twist elegantly along with their skin, possibly wrapping around their arms and legs.

They are calm and nurturing like a flower in full bloom, but if someone harms those they care about, they reveal her "thorny" side, becoming sharp-tongued and quick to defend themselve and others.

They are the embodiment of the rose—elegant, serene, and welcoming to those who approach them with kindness. They value harmony, often seeking to create peace among those around them, much like how a rose beautifies its surroundings. However, like the thorned stem of the flower, they have a sharp edge. They are fiercely protective of their friends and can be quite intimidating when someone threatens them.

When they walk past the surroundings with plants, flowers or roses start to bloom out of nowhere since they have a connection to nature. Become NRC affocial gardener

Regardless they are actually very good at gardening, when Crowley was visiting ramshackle he saw that ramshackle is like a green house rich with beautiful plants, instead of a run down shack it looks like a rich and bountiful house that are filled with flowers around it making it beautiful. Soon they were hired to be a gardener including a paycheck for them.

And it did not disappoint, the school became a lot more popular, the school has become a much nicer place than RSA, the film research club usually films scenes that takes place in forest or an area field with flowers in exchange of not damaging the flowers, even some famous brands, photographer etc do their photo or filming in NRC, Crowley managed to double the amount the his getting but 80% of the money was given to yuu.

During some time epel ask half flower!yuu to help him with the trees in his village, since their grandparents have apple trees and it been getting hard to maintain. As well to use their natural ability to turn dead trees into flourishing apple trees.

Each winter, they're powers and energy slowly begin to dwindle as the weather turns colder. Much like how roses enter dormancy during the winter season, they also withdraw from their usual lively state. Their body and magic are tied to nature, so they require this period of rest to rejuvenate their powers. During hibernation, the rose vines that adorn their body recede slightly.

This hibernation period usually lasts from late fall until the first signs of spring. During this time, their personality becomes quieter, more introspective. They tend to avoid conflict, conserving their energy by staying indoors and using her magic sparingly. However, even in this dormant state, their thorns remain sharp, ready to defend themselves and others if necessary.

Since they're connected to plants and nature, they have the ability to manipulate any plant similar to poison ivy powers but the drawback they are unable to create plants, only be able to only existing resources.

Example : during the savanaclaw arc, they were unable to manipulate plants due to the lack of plants or nature in the area. So they carried a sack of seeds In case of this situation.

They're floral pheromones can calm, soothe, or subtly influence others. At NRC, they uses this ability carefully, often to de-escalate conflicts before they spiral out of control. In dangerous situations, they can amplify the effect to create an overwhelming sense of peace, putting their opponents into a dazed or passive state.

In ramshackle, there's a small garden filled with rare flowers, and some students found half flower!yuu tending the flowers during their free time and if any students pluck their flowers without permission or destroy it, they will dangle by the leg upside down for half an hour.

Their dorm room is a sanctuary of its own, filled with potted plants, vines, and roses that respond to their presence. It has a calming atmosphere, with the faint scent of roses always lingering in the air. Friends often visit their room for peace and quiet when the chaos of NRC becomes overwhelming, knowing that their plants will offer comfort and protection. They've become known for her green thumb, and their room is a hidden oasis amid the more chaotic, dark environment of the school.

They are also knowledgeable about biology on plants. During their free time if a student manages to come in contact with their dangerous plants, they will create an antitude for the situation. They are also excellent pharmacists.

Classes like potionolgy are extremely easy for them, one of Mr crewel star pupal. Some students seek for them for their guidance on the subject

Them and Vil share an appreciation for beauty and elegance. Vil respects their natural grace and sees her as a symbol of refined strength. They bond over skincare, fashion, and the art of presentation, though Vil sometimes wishes they would embrace a more high-maintenance beauty routine. meanwhile, they enjoy Vil's dedication to perfection but reminds him that even roses have imperfections that make them unique.

Also they usually have a sun bath, they will lay in the ramshackle ground wearing a sun glass and enjoy the sunlight.

They are also to be described as very confident and brash by people, described by people as their thorn side even tho that people said this side is ugly, half-flower!yuu would ignore them due to them loving both sides of themselves and always be true to themselves.

Even tho people see them as a kind and brash person, they are also very judgemental immediately judging people's fashion sense, during their first meeting with ace, in their head they are judging his uniform and hairstyle. They also had a very sharp tongue immediately roasting the first years during their first meeting.

[neovenatorgirlteeth]

FEBUZOIC DAY 1

Canada - Danian stage, 66Ma before present

Last year, the world ended.

A female troodontid wanders through a burned-out forest, scrounging through the ash for any scrap of food to eat, occasionally stopping and calling out to something that is not there. Her feathers are unkempt and her movements are pained; she is not well. This time last year, the spring had yielded a plethora of fruits and flowers for her to feast on, along with the small birds and mammals that completed her diet. Then there was a huge flash, and a thunderous wave of sound that knocked her off her feet, and the world had been changed forever.

The summer was cold and barren, broken only by forest fires. The autumn was no different, and the winter was worse. This spring has brought no relief, grey and ashen rather than green and bountiful. Troodontids band together in times of high stress, but she has not seen another of her her kind in 6 months, only secretive little mammals living on roots and hibernating insects and scrawny birds searching for seeds, both too elusive for her to tackle in her weakened state. Dormancy is the key to survival in this post-apocalypse, either waiting it out or depending on others who are. She can do neither.

She calls out to the dead forest again, hoping that others of her kind are out there. Her cries are met only with the noise of the cold, ash-heavy wind.

By the next morning, the forest has gone silent

[astralfandoms]

So no one asked, but I drew a bunch of hedgehogs because @forestdragonart and I were brainstorming all the hedgehogs that appear in 9 Years, and now it's time to do some explainations

If you're not interested, don't click through.

But if you are, keep reading :>

So, with that over with...

*cracks knuckles*

Let's go!

First Row is Sonic, Werehog, Executable, Malachite, and Sonny. The reason why I'm listing all of them as a group is because they are a system, with Sonic being the host! Werehog showed up during the events of Unleashed (obviously), Executable had been around for awhile but was taken out of dormancy during the events of Forces, Malachite was formed during the events of Colors, and Sonny was formed during the events of Generations!

Now onto all of the sonic-adjacent characters (aka the other hedgehogs)!

Lord Xenophanes, also known as Lord X, is a demigod of eclipses, raised to divinity by Dark Gaia, and he is involved in my reshuffling/rewrite of Frontiers, alongside...

Fatal Error, also known just as Error or Malware, is a demigod of mistakes and programming, created completely by accident by a god OC named The Creator of Mechanics (who I need to draw a reference for). It vanished a few decades back, only to suddenly reappear alongside Lord X for unknown reasons.

Fleetway, sometimes just known as Lord of Shapes, is a god of the Body and Mind as well as Shapeshifters. He, similarly to Lord Xenophanes, Fatal Error, Curse, Mephiles, Zip, and Majin, chose a hedgehog-esque form due to the associations with Sonic, someone is seen as trustworthy and good. He, however, is morally dubious at best, and uses his forms to mess with mortals.

Uncle Chuck is essentially Sonic's father in everything but name, having raised Sonic by himself after his parents passed. You may notice that I still have versions of them listed don't worry I'll get to that. Just know that Clutch is surprisingly well connected, knowing a lot of different kinds of people from his young adult years.

Shadow needs no introduction, but I have lore about Black Arms that I might eventually talk about but also might not because explaining how I am not a fan of alien storylines is a whole ass can of worms that I don't feel like introducing. All you gotta know is that he is not an alien, but instead has like. Nightmare Creature blood in him.

Manic is a whole ass motherfucker in this AU. He's not related to Sonic or Sonia, but is instead a young adult who never was in a foster home for more than a year, if that. He currently works at the White Resort, specifically as Clutch's right hand man.

Curse is someone who prayed so hard to Lord X that he was blessed with immortality and now lives as his eternal attendant. However, he hasn't been seen in awhile, due to shenanigans that went down.

Mephiles is the god of warfare who has beef with Ignis (the revamped versions of Iblis) due to the structured manner of warfare clashing inherently with Ignis's domain of chaos. The fires (pun intended) were only flamed with the Duke of Soleanna's inference but were managed to be calmed by Solaris's interference in the form of Elise and Jet.

Zip is the demigod of insanity who is known for her manic mannerisms and chaotic following of Fleetway's orders. It normally stays out of the limelight and prefers just following Fleetway around like a lost puppy.

Shard, also known as Metal Sonic 2.0, is an extremely advanced Metal Sonic who advanced so far that he has far exceeded his original programming and has become his own being. Is a devout follower of Eggman, but there are seeds of doubt planted in his head due to his counterpart...

Quicksilver, also known as Metal Silver, is a scrapped Metal Silver who was left to rot on Scrapnik Isle after it wasn't a successful copy. He is a people pleaser and follows Mercury around, caring probably too much about he and everyone else views him.

Scourge, as I have previously talked a bit about, is one of three Avatars who ended up helping with the Forces situation, with all three of them being prototyped experiments of attempting to get the Phantom Ruby to fuse with him, with his side effect being the purple colored stripes on him.

Sonia, as mentioned in Manic's section, is not related to Sonic or Manic, and is instead from a very rich family where she's Daddy's little princess. But, instead of being very bratty, she's extremely air-headed and gullible, not understanding a lot of class-based things. Every winter, she goes to stay at her practical uncle, Clutch's, resort, but no one seems to bother her, despite some shady figures following her...

Hydraulic, also known as Metal Sonic 1.0, is a bit of an outdated model compared to Shard, but realized that Eggman Enterprises was just...not where it wanted to be, so it ended up turning itself in, before being broken out by a certain platypus in a thought out revenge plan.

Majin, also known as Time Eater, is god of...well, do I need to say? It is usually very calm, very level headed, very slow to anger...but even it has its limits. And one platypus with a god complex is really trying his patience.

Alina is...technically not the original Alina, but instead a robotic counterpart made as an attempt to try to "revive" her without actual necromancy. And who was the one who made her? She doesn't remember much, but she remembers it being a man with a kindly face wearing green overalls...

Mercury, also known as Metal Shadow, is a failed Metal Shadow who, like Quicksilver, was abandoned on Scrapnik for not being a successful clone of Shadow. It is very quiet and brooding, rarely talking unless its services are needed. He both is annoyed and finds a sense of comfort in Quicksilver.

Amy is an extremely cheerful and optimistic girl who has an awful case of faceblindness and is part of the reason that this whole chart was even made. She's very energetic and helpful, but to the point where she'll stretch herself thin in an attempt to make everyone happy, even at the expense of her own.

Silver is, to put it bluntly, an extremely sad and depressed young man who for the longest time was plagued with visions he didn't understand and that no one was willing to explain to him. Hailing from the Lunar Kingdom, he has a deep (unwilling) connection to Mephiles, and is seen as both his prophet and priest, even if he never wanted to be that in the first place.

And, finally, we have Jules who, similarly to Alina, is just an attempt to "revive" him by building a robotic counterpart. And, similarly, Jules doesn't remember much about who created him, only having vague memories of hushed words and the glint of blue glasses.

And that's all of them!!

Wow, that took...way too long to actually type out, but if you made it this far, please comment what you think! I love hearing other people's vibes and opinions for these characters :>

Now, if you excuse me, I need to get to tagging all these bitches.

[rewind-on-purpose]

Operation Lawn Replacement

All the little reddish seeds that are starting to sprout are mini white clover seeds. I threw fistfulls of these seeds all over my front yard a day ago, and they're already starting to sprout after the rain we've had.

As my update on my last post says, I recently bought a house. My first one ever. *excited squealing* One of the first things I'm doing is replacing the lawn with mini clover. This will probably irritate my neighbors, but since there is no HOA (I wouldn't have bought it if it did), I don't care. There are several reasons why I am doing this:

• mini clover only grows about 6 inches tall max, so it does not require mowing

• clover, being a legume, is a nitrogen fixer, which helps enrich the soil, and doesn't require massive amounts of fertilizer to stay green

• clover is broad leafed, so is better at shading out other undesirable plants/weeds, which means it doesn't require massive amounts of herbicides to create a uniform lawn (I am not advocating for monocultures here, but if that's what you want, then clover does it better than grass)

• clover emerges from dormancy sooner in the spring, stays green in the fall/winter longer, and requires less watering than grass, so it looks nicer when everyone else's lawns are dead and brown due to changing seasons or drought

• clover produces beautiful little white flowers that bees and butterflies love, which supports and attracts these pollinators to other areas of the garden

• clover leaves and flowers are edible

I'm sure there are other reasons I'm forgetting, but I think this is enough reason to lose the grass with its shallow roots and intensive care in favor of something simpler and prettier.

[lolo3hwriting]

The White Lily Greenhouse - How Would It Work?

Pure Vanilla Cookie has always been a favorite character to me because of his hobby of gardening. As someone who gardens as well as studies horticulture, it’s fun to see all of the gardens and plants he has in the story. The most notable example for me is the White Lily Greenhouse because it plays such an important role in Pure Vanilla’s character and story. He built it as a place to relax and to enjoy the white lilies he loves so much. But it made me wonder, how in the world would he manage it? Realistically it would take a lot of effort, and considering it's a private greenhouse within his castle, Pure Vanilla would most likely take care of it all alone.

Before I get into anything, I wanted to talk about the specific type of lilies that Pure Vanilla grows. The character White Lily Cookie is based on lilies in general, but most significantly the Madonna Lily. However, I couldn’t find much information about growing Madonna Lilies (Lilium candidum) in greenhouses specifically, so most of the information I have is from growing Easter Lilies (Lilum longiflorum) or lilies (Genus Lilum) in general in greenhouses. The growing requirements are mostly the same, but might have a few slight differences.

Specific Requirements for Growing Lilies and Greenhouses

(Diagram of a bulb, image taken from here)

So first, I wanted to explain briefly about the morphology of lilies and how that impacts their management. Most lilies grow from bulbs, which are specialized structures made up of a short fleshy stem enclosed by thick, fleshy leaves. At the bottom of a bulb is the base plate where the stem, leaves, and roots grow from. One way to propagate lilies is through bulblets (also called bulbils), small bulbs that grow from the base plate, which can be removed and planted on their own. However, the most common way is through bulb scales where the first (and sometimes second) outer portion of the leaf scales are removed and planted. But whatever the case, both the bulblets and bulbs scales need to go though some period of cold temperatures to break their dormancy. This means you can plant them in the fall and let them stay over the winter, or you could put them in a refrigerator to chill. Considering the Vanilla Kingdom is in a mountainous region and high up in the sky, I’m sure they can be put outside before transferring them to the greenhouse.

Heating and lighting are two important factors in making lilies grow well. Lilies need full sun, which is about 6 hours per day. Generally a south facing greenhouse will have more light exposure, otherwise you may need artificial lighting. Lilies will start growing when temperatures are warm enough, so greenhouses usually aim for 60 F, but they can also grow well up to 75 F. I'll discuss how heating and lighting might work for the white lily greenhouse.

Although lilies are perennials and bloom year after year if you maintain them, most ornamental gardens will plant new bulbs every year because old bulbs won’t produce as much or as big flowers as younger bulbs do. This would mean Pure Vanilla would have to dig up old bulbs and plant new ones every year, unless he has some type of special magic that will make them bloom as big and numerous consistently.

Weeding and pest management are always something to keep in mind with greenhouses, but if you don't let them become a problem then it's pretty easy to deal with. Proper sanitation like removing weeds before they produce seeds, removing plant debris and dead plants, and having clean growing media will all help prevent problems. I think Pure Vanilla is vigilant enough to do all of that.

Historical Greenhouses

(A classic greenhouse from England, image taken from here)

In the past, greenhouses were heated just by the sun or with additional heating like furnaces, hot water, or steam. This meant that temperature control was not very precise and had to be fiddled with in order for the greenhouse to be properly heated. If this was the case, I think there would have been some type of boiler specifically for the greenhouse situated at a higher elevation so that the hot water/steam could be carried by gravity into the greenhouse. Water for irrigation had to be brought in unless you had a nearby water pump. Carrying water in would have taken a lot of effort, not to mention that you would have to do watering by hand, which would have been tedious for one person. However, I doubt that Pure Vanilla would mind with his patient nature and enthusiasm for gardening.

The cost of glass and steel to build the greenhouse itself would have been expensive. But taking into account that Pure Vanilla was a king, he probably didn’t have much trouble with the cost of construction or equipment. 

The Vanilla Kingdom is based on Germanic countries, and those countries have a long history of using greenhouses. During the 16th and 17th centuries places like England, France, Italy, and the Netherlands had greenhouses to grow exotic plants that they collected. So the locale and inspiration for the kingdom lines up.

The Modern Approach

(A modern Dutch style greenhouse, image from here)

Considering the Vanilla Kingdom had the waffle bots and advanced technology, it would be reasonable that Pure Vanilla could have access to more modern greenhouse technology similar to what we have today. Things like automatic misting systems, electrical and gas powered heating, and artificial greenhouse lighting. Not to mention all the sensors and timers that can help automate things. However, I’ve seen greenhouses built pretty recently that still use hot water pipes to heat the greenhouse and manually watering their plants. Seeing that Pure Vanilla is more old fashioned and traditional, he could have also run his greenhouse using old school methods. 

Of course, all of this can be hand waved with magic but I like to think that the creation of spells is also considered special techniques that have to be learned and trained. I'm sure that Pure Vanilla or even White Lily Cookie could have developed some type of specialized magic to grow plants easier, similar to how in real life new technology is constantly being developed in order to more efficiently grow plants.

Sources:

https://wyoextension.org/publications/html/B1185R/

[fille--de--joies]

What does December mean you to you?

It's the season of humanity's dormancy;

Consciousness is shelled by blunt fallacy,

Shattered, splattered all over erasure,

Bleeding smiles of dead angels,

It's the promise of the earth; —seeds

Of grief and anger, the rage of return

Sown on fields of olive trees' roots

Entangled like umbilical bonds.

Our corpses' shreds are our names

Etched in winter's silence; the graveyard

Of the jailed memory will be the orchard's

Ground of a free revenant spring.

December 2023

[tenth-sentence]

Even so wattles are equipped to die, and in drought might die over many kilometres, seed beds dormant.

"Country: Future Fire, Future Farming" - Bill Gammage and Bruce Pascoe

[forest-and-fauna]

Native Gardening: A Guide for Cold Stratification

It's nearly January, which means that it's time for me to start stratification for my native seeds.

Many native seeds have a built-in dormancy mechanism which will prevent germination until it is broken either naturally by weather, or artificially via cold/moist stratification in the refrigerator. This is a guide for the refrigeration method.

It's best done about 2-3 months before spring if you plan on starting the seeds indoors, or 2-3 months before your last frost date if sowing outdoors (depending on germination requirements). This year I'm using peat moss but you can substitute it with moist sand or damp paper towels.

Choosing Your Plants

One thing to consider before buying native seeds is how successful they will be once planted in your garden. The best way to determine this is by going outside and seeing what grows naturally in the yard.

For example, my yard has mostly shade-loving plants like the Common Blue Violet, Bloodroot, and Witchgrass, along with some hardier, more tolerant species like Blue Wood-Aster and Common Milkweed. Sun-loving plants like goldenrod are present but restricted to the edges of the property. Despite having no natural water source, I have seen a few water-dwelling species pop up as well.

This means that I have a pretty moist/shady backyard and that I should focus on species that either prefer these conditions or are very tolerant of them.

Remember to choose species that grow naturally in your biosphere. Some native seed vendors will provide range maps which will show you where certain plants exist in the wild. This is important because the entire point of native gardening is to support your local ecology and wildlife.

This year I'm raising Virginia Strawberry, Early Goldenrod, Sundial Lupine, Columbine, Spotted-Touch-Me-Not, Bloodroot, and Highbush Cranberry. In addition to pollinators like bees, wasps. and butterflies, these plants will be beneficial to songbirds, hummingbirds, and small mammals.

I always buy seeds from Prairie Moon Nursery. I've had great experiences with them and they even offer native range maps and germination instructions for each species.

Materials:

One bag of peat moss

A mixing bowl

A pitcher or measuring cup of water

Lidded jars or sealable plastic bags (1 per species)

A permanent marker and painters tape for labels.

Seeds of your choosing

Instructions:

Fill your mixing bowl with peat moss.

Slowly add water and mix with your hands until the moss is moist but not soaked. You should be able to form it into a ball.

Press peat moss into each container.

Sprinkle in the seeds. I covered the larger seeds with more peat moss, but the smaller seeds were just sprinkled on top so that I can actually find them when it's time to plant.

Seal containers and label each with the species name, length of time required in the fridge, (usually 60-90 days), and if it requires double dormancy.***

After this, place the containers in the fridge for 60-90 days, depending on the germination requirements. You should check on them weekly to make sure they don't dry out or grow mold. If a seed starts sprouting during stratification, remove it from the container and plant it in a starter pot.

After the 60-90 day period, the seeds will be ready to germinate. Move them into starter pots with soil or plant them directly into your garden bed.

I prefer starting my plants in Peat Pots, which are compostable and can be planted directly in the ground. This allows me to raise my seedlings indoors without the threat of wildlife or competition while preventing me from disturbing their root system when transplanting.

***Note on Double Dormancy

Some plants have double dormancy requirements for germination and can be more challenging to grow. This means that the plant will need a period of cold moisture, then warm moisture, and finally another period of cold moisture before they will germinate. Bloodroot, American Cranberrybush, and Spotted-Touch-Me-Not are all species that need double dormancy.

[whats-in-a-sentence]

Familiar examples of dormancy caused by undersized embryos are celery (Apium graveolens) and carrot (Daucus carota) (Figure 18.2).

"Plant Physiology and Development" int'l 6e - Taiz, L., Zeiger, E., Møller, I.M., Murphy, A.

[art-of-manliness]

18 Things Every Man Should Do This Fall

F. Scott Fitzgerald famously said, “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” We believe it. Fall is our favorite time of the year. It’s a season where things are dying and transitioning into dormancy. But there’s also a last gasp of physical and psychic energy in the air. It’s like our minds and bodies know that we’ll soon be holed up for the winter and need to get out and get stuff done — and have a whole lot of fun — before the cold weather arrives. It’s harvest time! To help you make the most of this fall, we’ve put together a list of 18 things every man should do before the leaves are all the way off the trees. Complete each one before the winter solstice, and you’ll have created a bunch of memories to get you through the cold, dark months ahead. Let the fall adventures begin! There’s something satisfying about plucking a crisp apple straight from the branch. Find a local orchard and take your family to fill up baskets with a haul of fruit that can be bitten into directly or turned into apple crisps. While you’re there, see if they have a slingshot you can use to launch fallen/rotten apples into the air. In many areas of the country, fall is when state fairs are held. And, by our lights, they’re must-do affairs. Where else can you see prize-winning pigs, eat deep-fried Oreos, and buy airbrushed t-shirts of Tweety Bird all in one day? Take a spin on the Gravitron, try your luck at the midway games (here’s how to win 5 of them), and pet a goat. It’s a sensory overload of sights, sounds, and smells that only comes once a year. When the leaves start falling, it’s time to break out a big pot and get your chili game on. Better yet, round up your buddies for a chili cook-off (and a debate over whether beans belong in the mix or not). Winner gets bragging rights and a bellyful of everyone else’s attempts. Sure, it might seem childish, but who says being a grown man means you can’t have a little fun? Raking leaves is a necessary evil of homeownership, but it comes with a built-in reward. Once you’ve got a decent pile, take a running start and dive right in. The satisfying crunch, the earthy smell, the feeling of being covered in foliage — it’s fall distilled into one light-hearted act. Fall and football go hand-in-hand. There’s a raw energy to game day you can’t replicate — the anticipation in the air, the sea of team colors, the collective holding of breath as the ball sails towards the end zone. This season, make it a point to catch a game in person, whether it’s your college alma mater or the local high school team. Even if you’re not a die-hard fan, the sheer spectacle of it all is worth experiencing. Don’t miss out on the year’s only chance to turn produce into luminescent, hand-carved art. Rather than picking up your orange gourd from the bins outside a big box store, head to a veritable pumpkin patch to make your selection. Then, when it’s time to carve, mix things up and challenge yourself a bit. You can find plenty of pumpkin carving designs online, including these 6 manly stencils we’ve got available here. And don’t forget to roast those pumpkin seeds. Waste not, want not, gentlemen. Fall’s prime time to get out in the field, whether you’re after deer or ducks. Hunting requires patience, skill, and a healthy dose of respect for the great outdoors. If your hunt is a success, you’ll have a freezer full of meat that will last you all winter. And if you come home empty-handed? Well, that’s why they call it hunting. Pursuit is happiness! As the air gets crisp, it’s time to build up that woodpile. Grab your maul or splitting axe and get to work. There’s something truly satisfyingly about taking an axe to a log — the rhythmic thwack and the gratifying crack as it gives way. Not only does splitting firewood get you practical results, but it’s also a good workout to boot. Be sure to read our guides on how to correctly split firewood and how to stack and store it. Growing up, one of my family’s fall traditions was to put… http://dlvr.it/TDdXjV