Our flowers are just about bloomed out and it is time to begin preparing our gardens for next spring.  While things are still fresh in your mind now is a great time to sketch a map of what you would like your garden to look like next year.  Do as much work as you can now to save yourself time later.  There are several flowers and shrubs that can be planted now.  Also now is the perfect time to harvest seeds for next years sowing.

    Poppies are one of the most popular seeds to gather during this month.  Thousands of seeds could be in each pod so it is easy to have plenty to share with friends.  Once a poppy has bloomed the petals will fall off.  Within the next couple of weeks the plant will focus its energy on the pod.  During this period pods often grow 3-5 times their original size.  Wait to harvest the pods until they turn a buff gray.  If you pick them too soon the pods will shrivel.  At this point you have three options.  You can crush the pods over a bucket and them remove any extra debris.  However if you want to save the pods (many people use them in fresh and permanent bouquets throughout their homes) you can wrap the stems in paper and hang them upside down over a bucket.  This method requires some patience as you have to wait for the pods to naturally open, however you will end up with not only the seeds but straight stems to arrange in your floral arrangements.  The third option is upon cutting the pods let them dry upright in a bucket and again wait for the pods to open naturally.  This is my least favorite method simply because I usually end up with seeds outside the bucket.

    Whichever option you choose once you gather the ones you want to sow place them in a cool, dark, dry place until the spring.  The others can be saved and used for all kinds of wonderful recipes (muffins, chicken, cornish game hen etc . . . . ).