Open Up

Nearly all of those glorious blooms have now perished to seed heads and I've been collecting.

Each flower ultimately produces a seed head which releases 5 seeds which are catapulted onto the ground. Now I understand that they will germinate well where they fall so I'm going to try my first set of seeds on the surface of a seed tray bed.

Here's five snaps of the transition.

An End has a Start

Welcome to the first post of my blog. Over the last few years I have been battling against brambles and other weeds to reclaim a semi shaded area of the house I moved into 6 years ago. It's now become home to some of my more interesting plants as I strive to learn more about gardening mainly through a process called trial and error!!!!!

My geranium maderense in flower mid April 2011

Last year I bought a small geranium maderense, (also known as madeiran cranesbill - I believe) for £2 in the bargain - not in the best condition :(  section of a local garden centre here in the Channel Islands. I have been amazed and delighted with it's growth, the wonderful architecture of its foilage and the stunning floral display that it has rewarded me with. And that's in spite of being outside throughout last winter!

In bloom mid April 2011

It has now lost its flowers and the many heads are at different stages of seed production.

This I thought is an ideal time to keep a record of my attempts to cultivate those seeds to provide a new set of stunning plants.
 
I know it can be propagated from cuttings but my main interest in plants has always been to see what I can succesfully nurture from seed.