...and noticed something exciting: cones!
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Here's a closer look:
Most of them are at the top of the tree, but I guessed that the lower ones -- if there had been any -- already fell to the ground. I wanted to find some!
The trouble is...
...there's bamboo planted underneath the tree, which made looking for cones and/or seeds nearly impossible.
Since the tree's branches spread outward quite a bit though, there were areas outside of the bamboo zone that could contain seeds...
...but these areas are difficult to search visually when you don't know what you're really looking for.
Then I started spotting them!
That round thing in the middle of the image is a cone!
Here's one that's still somewhat intact, and shows that they're not conical at all:
The seeds are packed in there and triangular -- I guess that's the best way to describe them.
I found several once I knew what I was looking for:
I read that these need cold stratification and/or submergence in water in order to germinate, so that's what I plan to do with them. I also read that they grow almost 3' (0.9m) in their first season, which is pretty impressive!
If all goes well I may have some seedlings to distribute to friends next year...
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Oh... I need to go check the bald cypress down by the dam. Bald cypress are a bonsai favorite and I have been somewhat coveting them. Never sunk thru to just grow me a few trees!
ReplyDeleteHow cool is that? Hope you have great success with your seeds!
ReplyDeleteWe have a lot of bald cypress trees along the lake and one across the road from us but I have never thought of trying to germinate them. Maybe I should give it a try-if I can find some. I always think that their leaves should make a good compost for our alkaline soils.
ReplyDeleteA fun and exciting project. By next year you may have some nifty gifts to share with friends .
ReplyDeleteAn update: I've started soaking some of the seeds. I suppose I'll go for 60 days? Stay tuned...
ReplyDelete