Sowing Seeds for Honey Bees on a Blustery Winter Day
This morning the National Weather Service issued an urgent weather update warning of probabilistic snow forecasts for Colorado. The warning included a dangerous snowsquall— possibility in my southern Colorado location. Having waited since summer for the perfect conditions, we donned our snow boots and wintery coat and headed out to sow a giant envelope of wildflower seed collection---perfect for dryland pollinators.
This packet of drought resistant seeds, specifically native to the driest and most challenging drylands in the US, prefers sowing in mid to late-fall in our semi-arid region of the country. Sowing at this time of year is best as subsequent winter cold and snow (moisture) will promote seed germination the following spring. With seed and rake in hand, we headed out to a secret garden nestled among the pines surrounding my she-shed, scraped the earth, hand forecasted the seeds, and gently raked for sowing a thin layer of soil upon the seeds. The wind whistled, bitterly ferocious, our hands freezing. Hoping the squalling snow will provide needed moisture and protection of the delicate seeds and a hidden cover from the abundance of soil scratching birds—we now wait for spring!
What real (or proverbial) seeds have you sowed lately?