Gearing up for the 2014 ARHS Seed Exchange

It has been awhile since we have had a new Blog entry, so perhaps we can start 2014 with some information related to the upcoming ARHS Seed Exchange.
Preparing the Exchange information takes a part of winter's boredom away.
Some months ago I prepared a little over view into the activities associated with the Seed Exchange. The PDF version is available, called "Glimpses Into Your Seed Exchange".
The 2014 edition has been sent to ARHS members. Until February 10, 2014, the exchange is only open to members, but after that everyone may avail themselves. The online version is on our website. 
This little collage has some excerpts from a few seed lots. I have added many image links to the current list, but have not intended to have a link for every entry. We have to leave a little homework for the masses!

This list will ultimately get updated when certain seed lots become unavailable.
We have ended up with quite a sizable list this year with 178 entries. Magnolia fans should be happy with the sixteen different types.
We seem to have a bit of a bias for Magnolia seed and have been treating it quite carefully each year. All the seeds have been carefully cleaned and packed in moist moss to be stored in the fridge. This helps ensure that when the seed is planted in the spring that germination will be okay. Germination seems dependent upon many things, some of which we have no control over.
Some years there will be almost 100% germination, other times germination will be poor. Our only speculation is that some seed has been collected at a more judicious time wrt maturity.
We are hoping that lots of these get to good homes, so that Bill will not be tempted to plant all the leftovers and end up with MANY more little trees than we really need. This is one of the many seedlings grown last year, about July 4th

Last year we had close to one hundred little plants which needed to be dealt with at season's end. Bill heeled them into a spot below the garlic patch, so hopefully most will survive the winter

Magnolias are quite satisfying plants to grow and increase in size and vigor quickly. This is one which was in its second year.

Granted it does take some patience to wait the few years until a seedling magnolia flowers, but in the end seems worth it. This is a bloom from a plant grown from Magnolia "Spring Snow' OP. 

I can't recall how may years before it bloomed, but it is quite lovely and gets better each year.
Almost all the magnolias we have are seed grown. 'Butterflies' is the only exception.
There are still a few tasks to do to get all the seed lots ready for dispensing. The latest seems to be getting the data base complete so labels can be prepared. Every year we have new items which may require a bit of research for germination info. This example is typical. It has been a few years since Japanese Maple seeds were contributed. Just another example of a tree which is quite easy to grow from seed.

I fully expect the first seed orders to be in our mail in a few days. Some growers are very swift.

Marching towards Spring

This is the first beautiful sunny day we have had in awhile. It seems possible spring might not be too far off. With temperatures just above freezing, the sap should be flowing today. The fine folks at Sugar Moon Farm in Earltown are likely "in business".

All in all this winter has not been too onerous.

February really went by without huge wintry incidents and temperatures were quite mild.

Seed orders have been sent off and actually received in some instances. This winter we have not had any seedlings on the go, so a spring start will have to do.

We have been quite busy getting the first round of seed orders for The Atlantic Rhododendron & Horticultural Soc. packaged up. and mailed out. The 2010 Seed Exchange is now open to the public, and will be until ~April30, 2010.

The list has been updated to show any items that are sold out.

Magnolias have been very popular this year.

We still have not been able to get Highspeed internet service, so have been going along at our usual snail's pace. Being in a "signal hole" is not a nice thing.

We had quite long periods when the heavy snow and ice crept off the roof in an approximation of an avalanche. 

Every once in awhile there would be a roar as large pieces fell. The chickadees were always in an ice shadow. 

The remnants have been melting a bit day by day. Quite big icicles are there now. There hasn't been a day warm enough for the whole bulk to fall.

We've Gone To Seed

In the midst of this pre-winter cold, windy blast, we are busy getting our annual seed lists in some sort of order.

The list for the 2010 Atlantic Rhododendron and Horticultural Society Seed Exchange needs to be submitted for publication in a day or two. I do hope there are no seed contributions that will necessitate a redo. The Order Form and little introduction "blurb" are ready to go. I always hope that after they leave the premises I don't discover too many grievous errors.

The online version will get done in the New Year. It doesn't get posted until after the members get the published copy in the winter Newsletter.

 

Our "Saved Seeds" list from here at home has been pretty well updated and is now posted on our website. Enquiries for these will likely not be in the forefront until after Christmas.

February Entrance

We are 4 days late getting February started, but that is not much of a loss, since it has been downright miserable with snow, freezing rain, rain, high winds, and plummeting temperatures. So much for the lament. At least the sun is shining today, the Groundhog didn't see his shadow,and hopefully we will not break our neck on ice. We are now in the midst of the ARHS Seed Exchange, and have been receiving orders in the mail on a regular basis. It is "members only" until the end of February, but open to the world at large after that. Gardening ventures are very much on the back-burner, but we have been planning a two day Gardening Workshop to be in the Antigonish Co. Recreation Spring offerings. They are planned for May15th and 22nd, here at our garden in the early evening. There are many topics that can be conjured, but we have settled on three.

• Soil Building - since gardening works from the ground up.

• Growing Rhododendrons & Azaleas - people need to have advice. We will cover the basics of soil preparation, site choices, and varieties that do well here in Nova Scotia.

• Spring Flowering Bulbs - they will be in full bloom at the time of the course. Bloom time is a very good time to plan for the fall planting.