Pilot project producing native seed

We have many partners working to find and produce ecologically suitable seed for native ecosystem restoration.  This week, I met up with Vic Vankus of the USFS National Seed Laboratory to look at some small seed production plots at Taylor Nursery planted in 2012.  There is a lot of interest in the conservation and production of native seed and we are trying to learn as much as we can.  This was a good opportunity to share some of that knowledge.

Coreopsis linifolia sprouting up under some old flower stalks.

Liatris spicata 

Roots of Liatris spicata

Helianthus atrorubens

A particularly productive bed of Helianthus

We also got to take a peak at the sowing of improved longleaf pine seed going on right now at the nursery.  The folks at Taylor Nursery grow millions of tree seedlings every year!  We have even contracted the growing of thousands of wiregrass plugs with them for restoration plantings in recent years.