After several years of over seeding with locally collected native seeds finally they are showing up! Every summer and fall I would collect and process native seeds for our forb plot. The goal was to add more diversity to the all ready established CP-29 planting. In December after the first snow I would hand broadcast a mixture of damp potting soil and native seeds mixed together. With snow on the ground I could keep track of the seed dispersal. Not a precise system but, a effective low tech approach. The seeds would go through a stratification cycle and germinate in the first or second spring. The freeze and thawing breaks down the outer layer of the seeds and allows germination in the spring. Some species started to show up two seasons ago with more this year. New additions Prairie Blazing Star, Rattlesnake Master, Greyheaded Coneflower, Compass Plant, Partridge Pee, Black-Eyed Susan, and Cardinal Plant. Some of these take years to develop into mature flowering plants. The additional species are already a hit with the local insects and butterflies.
Prairie Blazing Star years to establish one of my favorite natives. Native Americans would dig up the corm bulbs to eat as a last resort starvation food.
Blazing Star makes a beautiful cut flower.
Greyheaded Coneflower easy to establish. 
Black-Eyed Susan very easy to establish and self seed easily.
Rattlesnake Master a crazy looking native. Plenty showing up they compete well with other plants. Many of these natives have taproots that grow several feet deep. This makes natives very drought resistant and efficient erosion control plants.
Leaves with spines gives it away for identification.
Wild Bergamot part of the original planting. Very easy to establish and a butterfly favorite.
Cardinal Plant blooms in red or blue colors.
New England Aster is getting rare in the plot deer think it is chocolate.
Very excited to have these starting to become established. These are Compass Plants it may take five years before it will flower. Very hearty native that will reach 4-7’ tall with multiple sunflowers. This plant can live up to one hundred years. Song birds eat the seeds and use the plant for perching. 
Scoring a few points with Carol. No excuses flowers are close at hand. Hope you all will enjoy this post, hopefully the colors will brighten your day.
Be safe Wayne
Edited by WjColdWater, 17 July 2020 - 11:30 PM.
