From now through to the autumn is a good time to collect and save seed.  As we move to wards autumn, on a dry day its nice to walk around the garden looking at the flowers and veg to see where the seeds are forming.

A good tip when saving seed to ensure it's completely dry before you packet it. Seeds need to be stored in an environment more or less the opposite of that required for germination, which means the seeds need to be very dry, cool and dark.  On the left are Viola seeds which are ripe but not dry, they will go brown and dry out in the pods, at this stage the seeds can be carefully taken out ready for storage.

The other photo shows a pod open with Nigella seeds which are drying and will soon be ready to pick out, tweezers are good for small seeds as they help to ensure you get just the seeds and no other plant matter. Then put into packets and label. Another plant easy to save and germinate is Digitalis,  foxgloves, I often leave some seeds on the plant to scatter where they grow, pick some spires and distribute the seed and dry some so I can sow the seed and variety precisely where I want it, at least that's the theory. As with so much of gardening, its trial and error. Some plant seed stores well, germinates and produces just what you want, good cheap plants; other seed sulks and refused to perform; but it's always worth a try. Easy to collect and grow are nigella, sweet peas, viola, Calendula, Nasturtium , and  in the veg plot rocket seed and the bean family are easy to save and germinate.

Make sure that all other matter is cleaned off the seed and it's just the actual seeds which are saved. I stick most seeds in the fridge in old tins and containers, anything which comes to hand really. Unfortunately, not everyone is happy with a fridge full of seeds but keeping seeds cool does help so if not the fridge, in a garage, especially over winter and dark is best.

Saving your own seed is environmentally friendly and cheap. Not all plants come true from seeds, any plants which are hybrids will not but it's often interesting to see what comes from seeds. If you really want to reproduce from a hybrid take a cutting....more about cuttings later in the month.

This year I decided to try a wild flower patch having seen some great use of wild flowers on roundabouts, at shows and now of course at the Olympic stadium. There are parts of the garden which are not just wild but completely out of control and so began the backbreaking task of clearing thistles, brambles and perennial weeds. To make it easy I opted for mat impregnated with wild flower seeds. To be honest I wasn't expecting much as it was flimsy and of course the dreadful summer.

Surprise surprise, at the results just beautiful. And standing along side you can see the all sorts of insects and pollinators drawn to it like a magnet.   So often ideas in magazines and telly are just that; ideas which are hard to make work in average gardens. This worked really well,   it was as easy to do and the result is lovely.

                                                          Gardeners  are all ways thinking of next year and so the plan for next year is that along side the untamed part of the garden to lift turf to create a border strip and seed into. This time using seed because its a bigger area and just too expensive to cover with a prepared mat and also because this area is wetter and it will need to buy seed which will thrive on the conditions.

The turf can be stacked turfside to turfside to break down into good growing soil,

I am thinking next years potatoes.....on which subject I have just planted some potatoes in a tub to grow for Christmas.

Again, seduced by adverts and gardening programs, all suggesting to plant now for new potatoes at Christmas. To do this you need to be able to protect from frost and I intend to bring them in later in year to the greenhouse.

Will they be any good? More on that in December.

A reprise in the weather gave a chance to wander round Barnsdale gardens created be the late Geoff Hamilton. Its a fascinating garden full of inspirational planting and a joy to all gardeners. I have visited several times and I hope these two photos capture what an eye he had for plant combinations. In spring the Pergola covered in the yellow racemes of the Laburnum combined with the blue racemes of the Wisteria.

In August a very effective combination of grasses, Achillea and summer flowering Alliums just hits the spot. For more about grasses and alliums

If you are in Rutland, passing through or want a garden to visit Barnsdale is well worth it. http://www.barnsdalegardens.co.uk/

There are a whole series of gardens created originally for the TV programs and now maintained I believe by his family to a keen standard.