I gathered seed of Ceanothus greggii on a rocky slope in May.
Buck brush is what I’m talking about and yeah, it’s easier to say.
It got that common name cause it’s good browse, especially for deer.
So I put those seed capsules in an envelope very near,
where I sit to write down plant lists and sometimes write a check.
So I’m sitting there and hear a noise and wonder, what the heck?
Capsules were opening and tiny seeds were shooting out!
I’m gonna be growing Ceanothus this year, now there is no doubt.
So should I scarify or stratify or maybe combine the two?
I want those seed to germinate, I gotta figure out what to do.
I’ll use my incredible plant knowledge and a little ecology.
Some of it will be magic with just a pinch of theology.
I’ll agonize, I’ll pray and plead to some very weird gods.
I take this pretty seriously or I never would have picked those pods,
but by fall I’ll have tiny plants by seed from that rocky slope.
Seeds I remember hearing popping in an envelope.
And I know it sounds just crazy and seems such an ordeal,
but growing plants from the wild keeps ol’ Petey real.
Petey Mesquitey
The photos and poetry are mine.
