Transcription of Document FFDoc-1346.pdf

May 17, 1989

Dear Ron & Dot,

These are the wildflower seeds that I used last year in our garden along the front steps. Actually, these are from a new packet I bought this year. To use them most easily, get some sand or vermiculite and add it to the seeds -- say a quantity about 5 or 6 times the amount of seed here. That should allow you to scatter the seed easily in a prepared area. You can plant into the early summer, but the results will be longer appreciated if you do it as early as possible. An alternative is to plant in the fall, for spring blooms.

According to the instructions, all you have to do is rake up the soil a little (removing any weeds already there), sow the seed, and rake lightly again. Water once or twice daily until the growth is well started. Fertilizing is NOT necessary (although you MAY do it), since these plants do well in poor soil, and fertilizer just encourages native weed growth. Full sun is best, but the will tolerate partial shade.

A once-a-year mowing of the wildflower area is advised in the late fall after a killing frost or the plants have gone dormant. This helps to get seed heads on the ground for growth in the spring and neatens the winter appearance of the site. (I haven't planted our front area yet, and the reseeding from last year is already 5-6 inches tall and showing buds; but I don't know what's growing!) Don't use a lawnmower, as the cutting height is too low; 4 to 6 inches is the best cutting height and can be accomplished with a hedge clippers. Don't remove the dead plant material as it will act as a mulch in the spring.

The mixture has the following species in order of predominance by weight: Bachelor's Button, Baby's Breath, Scarlet Flax, Calendula, Blanket Flower, Lance-Leaved Coreopsis, Rocket Larkspur, Purple Coneflower, Corn Poppy, Shasta Daisy, Black-Eyed Susan, Catchfly, Blue Flax, Baby Snapdragon, Plains Coreopsis, Crimson Clover, and Queen Anne's Lace.

The whole package of seed I bought this year weighs only 4 ounces, but reportedly will cover 2500 square feet of garden area. So the amount in the enclosed envelopes should be all you need to seed a small showcase area.

Good luck!!

Love,

Frank/rt890517