If you love the flowers in your garden but don't love the idea of spending money on new ones, why not save their seeds to plant next year?
To maximize the odds that new plants will grow true to their parent, only collect seeds from those labeled"heirloom" or"heritage." Seeds from hybrid cultivars, which result from breeding two or more varieties, will produce plants that resemble only one of the plant's parents, so you have no way of knowing what you'll end up with.
Then place them in a paper envelope or sealed glass jar and store in a cool, dry spot. A refrigerator is ideal, as long as seeds can be kept away from fruit, which exudes ethylene gas that can affect their germination. Adding a silica gel pack for the first day or two of storage will help prevent mold growth.
Also, be sure to leave some seed heads standing to feed birds over winter. They'll reward you with free pest control in your garden next year.Although many plants naturally drop their dry seeds, some, like California poppies, cleome, impatiens and Texas bluebonnets, produce pods that burst open when mature, spewing seeds as far as 20 feet away.
In general, seeds of daisy-like flowers like sunflowers, coneflowers and, well, daisies have relatively low germination rates. Pick the plumpest for planting or sow extra for insurance.