3 Easy Tasks for The Autumn Garden

Saving Seeds, Planting Bulbs, and Making a Dried Marigold Wreath

Hello everyone and welcome to the Autumn garden! It’s astonishing how quickly this gardening season has flown by. As I stand in my back garden here in Southeast Michigan (Zone 6a), I can see the pine needles shedding and the leaves starting to change colors. Cooler days are around the corner, signaling a shift in our gardening activities.

My focus for the Autumn garden is:

In today’s post, I’ll show you how to collect seeds, I’ll share the bulbs I’ve selected to ensure a blossoming garden come spring, and I’ll guide you through crafting a beautiful wreath using dried marigolds (Tagetes erecta ‘Kee’s Orange’) from my pollinator garden.

If you prefer Reading Instead of Video

I’ve summarized the list of September garden tasks below if you like reading more than watching videos. If you have plants that you want to add to the list, just leave a comment. Thanks for being here.

Collecting Seeds from The Autumn Garden

One of the joys of gardening is preserving your favorite plant varieties by collecting their seeds. Today, I’m gathering seeds from zinnias and marigolds. For the zinnias, particularly the ‘Queenie Lemon Peach’ variety—which has quickly become a favorite—I let the flowers dry on the plant. I purchased these seeds from Select Seeds.

Once they’re ready, I snip off the dried flower heads and gently pull apart the petals to reveal the seeds attached at the base. These seeds are then stored in labeled envelopes, ready to bring a touch of color to next year’s garden.

Marigolds are equally generous when it comes to seed production. After the flowers have faded, I remove the dried heads and open them up to find a bounty of seeds inside. Just one marigold flower can provide more than enough seeds for the following season, and the process is as simple as pulling apart the petals and collecting the seeds.

In addition to seed saving, I’m also harvesting flowers like gomphrena for dried arrangements. The deep purple variety adds a lovely pop of color to any display.

Planting Bulbs for a Colorful Spring Display

My mother and I visited a local garden center and found a few tulips and daffodils for the garden. We’re excited about the tulips we selected especially ‘Grand Perfection’ with its striking white and burgundy petals, ‘Queen of the Night’ known for its deep purple hue, and ‘Attila Graffiti,’ which has a vibrant blend of pink and purple.

For daffodils, we’re trying out some new varieties: ‘Dick Wilden,’ a double daffodil with lush layers of petals; ‘Salome,’ featuring a soft peach center; and ‘Juanita,’ a charming smaller daffodil with yellow petals and an orange cup. Planting these bulbs now promises a breathtaking display when spring arrives.

Crafting a Dried Marigold Wreath

One project I’ve been eager to tackle is creating a wreath from dried marigolds. Using flowers I’ve preserved in silica sand—a method that helps maintain their vibrant color—I start with a straw wreath form and attach the dried marigolds using straight pins. The process is straightforward and surprisingly quick, resulting in a stunning autumnal decoration perfect for brightening up any space.

You might wonder how long such a wreath lasts. From my experience, the wreath I made last year retained its beauty for almost a full year before the colors began to fade. It’s a testament to the durability of marigolds when properly dried and preserved.

Join the Conversation

Gardening is a continual journey of growth, learning, and creativity. Whether you’re collecting seeds, embarking on DIY projects, or planning ahead for the next season, there’s always something rewarding to do. I’d love to hear about your gardening plans. Are you planting any bulbs this fall? Do you have any creative projects in mind?

Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. Happy gardening, and I look forward to seeing you in the next post!