You notice my tall, magnificent flower spike has faded. The beautiful, bell-shaped blossoms that you and the bees so adored have now withered and dropped. Do not be sad, for this is not my end, but the glorious beginning of my next chapter. At the base of each former flower, a small, green, rounded ovary begins to swell. This is my fruit, my seed pod. I am channeling all my remaining energy into these vessels, nurturing the precious life within. Please be patient with me now; I need time to complete this vital work.
Patience is the most important virtue here. You must watch me closely. My seed pods will slowly change from a soft, fleshy green to a dry, papery brown or tan. They will feel crisp to the touch. The most telling sign is the very top of the pod, where it will begin to split open, revealing a glimpse of the dark, minute treasures I hold inside. If you harvest too early, the seeds will be pale, soft, and immature; they will not have the strength to grow. If you wait too long, the pods will split wide open, and I will gladly cast my thousands of seeds to the wind, ensuring my own propagation without your help.
The day has arrived. My pods are crisp, brown, and just starting to yawn open. On a dry, calm morning after the dew has evaporated, come to me. Hold a small paper bag or envelope underneath one of my seed-laden stalks. With your other hand, gently bend the stalk over the bag and give it a soft, yet firm, shake. You will hear a faint, satisfying rustle as my countless tiny seeds, like fine dust, rain into your container. Alternatively, you can use your fingers to carefully crush the dry pods over the bag, releasing the seeds. I trust you to be gentle with my structures.
You now hold a bag of my future children, along with some dried pod fragments and other chaff. To give them the best start, they need a little cleaning. Spread the contents of your bag onto a white plate or sheet of paper. Gently blow on the pile or use a soft breeze from a fan. The lighter chaff will blow away, leaving behind the heavier, viable seeds. These seeds are my pride and joy—they are my genetic legacy, a perfect blend of my own traits and those of the pollinator who visited me.
My seeds are now ready for dormancy, a long sleep until the conditions are perfect for awakening. They despise moisture and plastic, which can encourage mold and rot. Please fold them into a small paper envelope or place them in a glass jar. Label it clearly with my name, 'Digitalis', and the date you collected them. Store this container in a cool, dark, and absolutely dry place. Here, they will wait patiently until the spring sun calls them to grow, allowing you to cultivate a magnificent new generation of my kind in your garden, all from the life I have given you.
