Why I now save seed from my foxgloves and how this tiny ritual changed the way I see time in the garden
Eleanor Ashford
As my wellingtons squelched into the familiar, rain-softened earth of my garden, I found myself amidst the bi-annual ritual that has quietly transformed my relationship with gardening and indeed, with time itself. This minor festivity, modest yet profound, centres around a particular plant, whose presence brings a sense of historical continuity and grace, the foxglove.
If you stepped into my garden a decade ago, you might have seen a novice gardener, somewhat overwhelmed by the myriad tasks demanding my attention from every corner. Back then, I viewed this space as merely my weekend project. It wasn't until I began saving seeds from my foxgloves that the garden and I started an ongoing dialogue, one whispered season after season.
The Seed Saving Ritual
And so the ritual begins. It starts in late summer, when the towering spires of foxgloves have shed their riotous blooms, leaving behind spindly brown stalks. Some might find this stage unremarkable, yet familiarity, whether in people or plants, often reveals beauty beneath what first meets the eye. I gently collect the delicate seed pods, each holding potential for next year's blossoms.
The art of seed saving is simplicity itself, requiring nothing more than a paper envelope, a pair of scissors, and a patient hand. Amidst this tangible act, I feel the weight of time, both sacred and cyclical, akin to when my grandmother taught me to bake bread without the trappings of modern precision. Each tiny seed serves as a reminder that nurturing these matters is what truly counts.
A Lesson in Patience
Saving seeds from foxgloves taught me to value slowness, a difficult lesson in our fast-paced world. A single seed, though diminutive, embodies the essence of patience. From the moment it rests in the palm of my hand, my relationship with it is no longer one of urgency, but of nurturing care, a connection that cannot be rushed.
When you sprinkle these seeds onto compost-rich soil, you're not guaranteed immediate results. Foxgloves may choose to reveal their beauty in their biennial nature. The first year sees modest leaf growth, content to prepare slowly for their spectacular second act. This inherent patience teaches one to embrace the journey rather than racing toward the destination.
Experiencing Renewal
I have come to cherish the foxglove's cycle, a narrative of rebirth and renewal that unfolds in layers. As winter's chill nips at our fingertips, the seeds nestle into their cold earthen berth, patiently waiting for the warming kiss of spring to rouse them from dormancy. If one can bear some challenges and uncertainties of British weather with equanimity, they become an unexpected gift, bestowing strength and resilience upon new blooms.
Each season, I find fresh joy in witnessing the emergence of these rejuvenated life forces. Sowing a mere sliver of a seed in early autumn holds the promise of dozens of pastel-spired foxgloves. Every plant is unique, just as every season differs slightly from the last, teaching us to embrace change.
A Legacy of Love
The act of saving seeds doesn't end with planting. With each flowering stem bursting forth, a kind of familial lineage unfurls, a living tapestry connecting generations past and present. In this subtle way, my garden has become a living storybook, reflecting both my personal history and the rich tapestry of gardening tradition.
My mother, in her soft-spoken Norfolk way, would recount how she used to gather seeds of all sorts, passing her battered gardening notebook down to me with a knowing smile. This practice, once an esoteric nod to thrift, now becomes an ecological necessity as well as an act of love.
There's a connection between times when economy was essential and now, when sustainability calls upon us. Our resourceful forebears have taught us a wisdom that has become our survival guide today.
Mindfulness in Every Moment
Gardening, at its heart, nurtures mindfulness. As I crouched amongst my foxgloves for yet another seed-saving venture, awareness settled over me like a comforting quilt. There, inhaling the cool, earthy scent around me, my focus delicately piqued on the simple yet profound act of collecting seeds, reminding me to be present.
This is the garden's gentle nudge, a reminder to observe the sights, sounds, and sensations lavished on us by Mother Nature. Mindfulness grows branches into daily life, rooting us firmly to each moment without worry of seasons yet to come.
A Metaphor for Life
As fleeting as they may seem, these tiny seeds hold myriad possible futures. Every foxglove is a testament to life’s intricate dance, a blend of vulnerability, strength, and resilience. Casting their seeds to the wind mirrors the course of our lives, where each choice represents a seed sown, standing ready to blossom under fortuitous conditions.
In tending our gardens, the parallels to existence emerge, one must cultivate patience, acknowledge the rhythms of time and change, delight in momentary beauty, and prepare for inevitable transformations. As the world around us speeds on, let us carve out spaces of quiet reflection, much like our gardens.
With each seed I save, I feel a satisfying assurance in knowing that I am part of a continuum, investing in a future I've helped to shape with intention and care. It is a tiny but vital act of stewardship, one that resonates across years, converting the seasonal rhythms of foxgloves into life’s echo of persistence.
The Joy of Craft
Ultimately, saving seeds allows us to engage with the artistry of gardening. It's not just about yielding results by applying dexterity and knowledge but rather crafting a legacy held together by the threads of observation and reflection. This simple craft draws us back to root-level values, encouraging us to connect to heritage, to create a garden of stories.
The craft journey often fills the voids left by modern tools and provides the opportunity for complete immersion. Here, we can release ourselves from the digital inundation and engage in tactile communion with garden and earth, becoming artists in paint composed of sunshine, rain, and time.
So, if you find yourself trotting around your garden with foxgloves lining your paths, I beckon you into the delightful ritual of seed saving. Allow yourself a journey beyond horticulture into the gentle art of mindfulness and patience. Time may indeed be ever-moving, yet within the humble dainty of a foxglove seed, a pause awaits your discovery, a whisper of eternity, laced in biannual blooms.
If you stepped into my garden a decade ago, you might have seen a novice gardener, somewhat overwhelmed by the myriad tasks demanding my attention from every corner. Back then, I viewed this space as merely my weekend project. It wasn't until I began saving seeds from my foxgloves that the garden and I started an ongoing dialogue, one whispered season after season.
The Seed Saving Ritual
And so the ritual begins. It starts in late summer, when the towering spires of foxgloves have shed their riotous blooms, leaving behind spindly brown stalks. Some might find this stage unremarkable, yet familiarity, whether in people or plants, often reveals beauty beneath what first meets the eye. I gently collect the delicate seed pods, each holding potential for next year's blossoms.
The art of seed saving is simplicity itself, requiring nothing more than a paper envelope, a pair of scissors, and a patient hand. Amidst this tangible act, I feel the weight of time, both sacred and cyclical, akin to when my grandmother taught me to bake bread without the trappings of modern precision. Each tiny seed serves as a reminder that nurturing these matters is what truly counts.
A Lesson in Patience
Saving seeds from foxgloves taught me to value slowness, a difficult lesson in our fast-paced world. A single seed, though diminutive, embodies the essence of patience. From the moment it rests in the palm of my hand, my relationship with it is no longer one of urgency, but of nurturing care, a connection that cannot be rushed.
When you sprinkle these seeds onto compost-rich soil, you're not guaranteed immediate results. Foxgloves may choose to reveal their beauty in their biennial nature. The first year sees modest leaf growth, content to prepare slowly for their spectacular second act. This inherent patience teaches one to embrace the journey rather than racing toward the destination.
Experiencing Renewal
I have come to cherish the foxglove's cycle, a narrative of rebirth and renewal that unfolds in layers. As winter's chill nips at our fingertips, the seeds nestle into their cold earthen berth, patiently waiting for the warming kiss of spring to rouse them from dormancy. If one can bear some challenges and uncertainties of British weather with equanimity, they become an unexpected gift, bestowing strength and resilience upon new blooms.
Each season, I find fresh joy in witnessing the emergence of these rejuvenated life forces. Sowing a mere sliver of a seed in early autumn holds the promise of dozens of pastel-spired foxgloves. Every plant is unique, just as every season differs slightly from the last, teaching us to embrace change.
A Legacy of Love
The act of saving seeds doesn't end with planting. With each flowering stem bursting forth, a kind of familial lineage unfurls, a living tapestry connecting generations past and present. In this subtle way, my garden has become a living storybook, reflecting both my personal history and the rich tapestry of gardening tradition.
My mother, in her soft-spoken Norfolk way, would recount how she used to gather seeds of all sorts, passing her battered gardening notebook down to me with a knowing smile. This practice, once an esoteric nod to thrift, now becomes an ecological necessity as well as an act of love.
There's a connection between times when economy was essential and now, when sustainability calls upon us. Our resourceful forebears have taught us a wisdom that has become our survival guide today.
Mindfulness in Every Moment
Gardening, at its heart, nurtures mindfulness. As I crouched amongst my foxgloves for yet another seed-saving venture, awareness settled over me like a comforting quilt. There, inhaling the cool, earthy scent around me, my focus delicately piqued on the simple yet profound act of collecting seeds, reminding me to be present.
This is the garden's gentle nudge, a reminder to observe the sights, sounds, and sensations lavished on us by Mother Nature. Mindfulness grows branches into daily life, rooting us firmly to each moment without worry of seasons yet to come.
A Metaphor for Life
As fleeting as they may seem, these tiny seeds hold myriad possible futures. Every foxglove is a testament to life’s intricate dance, a blend of vulnerability, strength, and resilience. Casting their seeds to the wind mirrors the course of our lives, where each choice represents a seed sown, standing ready to blossom under fortuitous conditions.
In tending our gardens, the parallels to existence emerge, one must cultivate patience, acknowledge the rhythms of time and change, delight in momentary beauty, and prepare for inevitable transformations. As the world around us speeds on, let us carve out spaces of quiet reflection, much like our gardens.
With each seed I save, I feel a satisfying assurance in knowing that I am part of a continuum, investing in a future I've helped to shape with intention and care. It is a tiny but vital act of stewardship, one that resonates across years, converting the seasonal rhythms of foxgloves into life’s echo of persistence.
The Joy of Craft
Ultimately, saving seeds allows us to engage with the artistry of gardening. It's not just about yielding results by applying dexterity and knowledge but rather crafting a legacy held together by the threads of observation and reflection. This simple craft draws us back to root-level values, encouraging us to connect to heritage, to create a garden of stories.
The craft journey often fills the voids left by modern tools and provides the opportunity for complete immersion. Here, we can release ourselves from the digital inundation and engage in tactile communion with garden and earth, becoming artists in paint composed of sunshine, rain, and time.
So, if you find yourself trotting around your garden with foxgloves lining your paths, I beckon you into the delightful ritual of seed saving. Allow yourself a journey beyond horticulture into the gentle art of mindfulness and patience. Time may indeed be ever-moving, yet within the humble dainty of a foxglove seed, a pause awaits your discovery, a whisper of eternity, laced in biannual blooms.