Growing With Science Blog

Putting the fun back into scientific exploration

Archive for May, 2011

Mystery Seed of the Week 71

May-31-2011 By Roberta

Another plant with small blackish seeds.

Even worse, the photographs didn’t turn out well because I was trying to take them right before dark.

Does the seed head help?

Do you recognize this plant?

Edit:  The answer is now posted.

Seed of the Week: Oriental Poppies

May-31-2011 By Roberta

The mystery seeds from last week were from oriental poppies, Papaver orientale.

Perhaps if I showed the seeds from a poppy seed bagel it would have been easier to guess, although I understand those poppy seeds are from another species of Papaver.

Oriental poppies are supposedly perennials, although we’ve always grown them as annuals.

They originally from the Middle East.

The beautiful flowers come in a range of colors.

This pink one is frilly.

The red ones are breathtaking.

The seeds form in these seed heads and then are shaken out by the wind.

Do you grow oriental poppies?

Bug of the Week: Armyworm

May-25-2011 By Roberta

What is eating the cowpea?

After seeing the leaves with holes and then leaves missing, I finally spotted the culprit.

Looks like some sort of armyworm, genus Spodoptera.

Almost looks like this aphid is curious about it, too.