Seeds! Seeds! Seeds!

Fall is the time for seeds. The growing season is ending. Plants have used the energy from the sun all summer long to make food for growth and for making seeds. What can we learn about seeds now that it is fall?

First, let's think about why plants make seeds. Flowering plants use the sun’s energy to grow flowers. If the flowers have female parts and are pollinated, they will make seeds. Seeds can grow into new plants. Learn more about this on our Flowers page. 

Is it true that there are a lot of seeds in the fall? Try going on a seed hunt to find out. Some seeds may be right out where you can see them. Others may be hiding inside of fruits or cones. Visit a field. Visit a forest. Look near a wetland. How many different kinds of seed can you see on plants? How many different seeds are on the ground? How many different seeds stick to your clothes?

Should you pick the seeds or just count them? If you take these seeds indoors, could this cause a problem? Will new plants be able to grow if you have taken the seeds? Could you draw them or photograph them instead of taking the seeds indoors?

Not all seeds get to grow. Some are eaten by animals. Can you find any clues that animals are eating seeds or the fruits that seeds are in? Our Fruit Hunt page may help you find out about how seeds are used by animals. What will happen to the animals if people take all the seeds?

There is another group of plants that makes seeds. Most people call these plants conifers which means cone-bearing. Learn more about them from our Cones Web page. 

Too many seeds in one place will not grow very well. Some plants have adaptations so their seeds will move away from the parent plant. Learn more by visiting our Traveling Seeds page.

One type of traveling seed is called a nut. It is collected by animals for food, but not all of them get eaten. Visit our page called Nuts to learn about this type of fruit.

Some seeds are not ready to grow right away. They have a way of waiting until spring comes. Learn how to grow these seeds from our Mistreating Seeds page. 

Did you learn anything about seeds? Was it fun? Try sharing what you did with someone else. You might be surprised at how much you know.
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