By BARBARA
BARBIERI
Seeds of all sizes decorated the tables as the recent Lunch & Learn event at Ouabache State Park as Jody Heaston, DNR, IMN presented a program about Seeds.
Heaston began her program by explaining how seeds are planted in the wild including by the wind, water, animals and splitting. She shared a hand out that showed how all four worked.
Animals could be used as they scattered seeds with burrs and by eating part of a seed and trashing the rest and by their poop. She also told about exploding seeds such as those of the Impatiens and Touch Me Nots.
Dandelions and milkweed would be examples of ones sent off by the wind. Also explained that during World War II the milkweed pods were collected to make kapok for sailors life vests.
Also shared were some tricks for planting seeds outside. Seeds should be stored outside before planting and scattering them just before an early snow is a good time to plant them. Some seeds like walnuts need scarification or scaring before they are planted while seeds like milkweed need cold stratification before they are.
Seeds easy to grow included beans, peas, pumpkins, cucumbers, zinnias, cosmos, sunflowers, lettuce, radishes and squash.
Heaston also explained that seeds are allowed to be taken from state parks. She also encouraged folks to take some that had served as table decorations.
The Lunch & Learn programs are sponsored by the Friends of Ouabache State Park from April through October. The programs are free but park admission is required. Participants bring their own lunch with Corner Depot Catering providing a dessert each month.
