Wild Ones Potluck and Seed Exchange
November 13, 2019
Brentwood Community Center
Attendance: 42 members and 1 guest
Our President, Marsha Gebhardt, started the meeting by complimenting all the delicious looking food on our tables. She reminded all that the seed table was full of wonderful seeds and available for all to take. This year there was also a table filled with books and other door prizes. Tickets to be used for prize selection were handed to each person when they entered.Many of the items were native plant-related books which our cherished, key member Ed Schmidt donated shortly before his death. He asked that they be given to Wild Ones folks at our November Gathering.
After dinner, a ticket number was drawn announcing that Joan Gray had won a free year’s membership to Wild Ones. Then the fun began! Sue Leahy had created a native plant bingo game.The bingo cards were laid out with pictures of native plants. Sue called out their names for members to identify and mark. The room grew louder with laughter and comments on plant identification clues. It could not have been a better game for native plant enthusiasts to play!
All turned serious when Sue started calling tickets numbers as many had scanned the prize table for what they wanted to pick.There were enough prizes for everyone to choose one.
At the end of the evening, everyone was invited to ask questions regarding planting their seeds. Renee Benage, Prem Barton and Kevin Mowery were some who gave their favorite tips.
- Always label your pots with the plant name.
- After you put the seeds in the soil, water them.
- Cover the seeds in a way that keeps critters and weed seeds out, but lets water and light in.
- Clear plastic “clamshell” boxes and milk jugs work well.
Others recommended resources for more propagation information:
- Native Plant School: Greenhouse Propagation of Native Plants – February 13 at Shaw Nature Reserve (SNR).This was highly recommended by several members.Register soon because it may sell out!
- Meanwhile, check out this PDF of propagation information from Shaw Nature Reserve
- Kathy Bildner’s post from 2014: Tips on Planting Seeds
- Kathee Morgeson’s post from 2016: Now that I have collected my native seeds, what’s next?
The evening concluded with all happy with their books, prizes and seeds to take home.
Submitted by
Ginny Johnson, Secretary
