In an alternate life, my family and I are living in a town called Squamish, in British Columbia. Because it’s green and beautiful and full of moss and ferns. Because it’s close to extended family and to mountains and BC ferries. And because we spent a lovely family vacation there a few years back.

For many practical reasons, we actually live in California, but we check in on Squamish from time to time. Throughout the fall when it was 70ish and sunny here, it was frequently around 33 degrees with “winter mix” in Squamish. When you’re tired of low angle, hot autumn sun glare and dry crispy plants, and you’re feeling like being indoors making quince jam and filling the house with cozy autumn smells, that weather report sounds nice, in a grass (moss?) is greener kind of way.

Not that one climate is better than another, but fall always makes me think just how different our various climates are, especially this time of year.

A couple weeks ago, as I was finally starting to recover, I found seed pods on the petunias growing around the potted lemon trees on the patio. It was a warm sunny day at my house, perfect for seed gathering. (It was winter mixing in Squamish, in case you're wondering.)

I took a little video, and then took some pictures of the seed pods themselves under the microscope because petunia seeds are really so very very cool.

Here is the seed pod on the plant:

And here are the seeds coming out, with the pod popping open:

Then, because the seeds were so small, and the pod so interestingly shaped, I had a good look under the microscope. Look how neat:

I love sharing cool botanical stuff like this, but I also feel kind of weird about it sometimes. What’s seasonal and current in my garden right now is certainly not in Squamish, and in lots of places where winter is much stronger than here. Helpful ideas about fall seed saving in a mild-winter climate are just not that relevant when you’re settling into frosts and snow.

So I postponed sending these pictures, feeling weird and turning over the idea of writing for gardeners in various climates through the fall. I pushed myself to figure out something more common to all of us. Which got me thinking about neglect, as I was neglecting you, dear reader, by wondering what to send you.

As you know, I was pretty sick through the fall this year. Two separate viruses came home from elementary school and hit me really hard, back-to-back. All told, between my own illness and caring for a sick kid, I was out of commission (or at least operating at very low capacity) for almost 6 weeks.

Lots of balls were dropped, including in the garden.

The garden isn’t looking its most tidy and perfect right now. But just think about what might happen if you neglect, say, taking out the trash for 6 weeks (!!) compared to the garden. Or laundry, or grocery shopping, or your job! Catastrophe!

The garden, on the other hand, mostly survives. And in many of corners, thrives! After weeks of total neglect, I wandered outside to find the gift of lots and lots of petunia seed pods, all ready to harvest and save for next year. There were more rotten tomatoes than good ones, sure, but there were actually a lot of good ones. The chard seems to keep producing more or less no matter what I do.

There are lemons on the lemon tree, ferns growing new fronds, and camellia buds getting ready to bloom. Tons of zinnias still going strong. The California natives usually look a little scraggly this time of year as they anticipate the rainy season, but they’re sturdy, and alive.

I hope that you, too, are sturdy and alive heading into this holiday season.

How is fall in your garden this year? How are you?

Happy Seedurday,

Anne

​

When you’re ready, here are some more ways I can help you grow a thriving garden from seed:

1. Plan your seed-starting schedule with our ​free printable planner.​

2. Download the free ​Orta Seed Starting Handbook with all the basics you need to succeed with seeds.​

3. Take the guesswork out of watering with Orta Self-Watering Pots. (Find discounted factory seconds here!)

4. Join the Orta Seed Club to have 5 hand-picked, unusual & high-yielding varieties delivered to you every season.

Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up to get the best emails about gardening from seed!