COVER
WHY ARE SEEDS SO INSPIRING? “All successful life is Adaptable, Opportunistic, Tenacious, Interconnected and Fecund.�
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-Octavia Butler, Parable of the Sower
020 was a year that needed hope. And what could be more hopeful than a seed? Within each seed is a promise. It represents both the beginning and the end of life. These tiny little packages have sustained ecosystems for millions of years and will likely sustain them for millions more, long after humans are gone from this earth. Yet the story of humanity is deeply intertwined with seeds, so much so that is not just a reflection of how we feed ourselves, but if we look closely, we can find the mark of humanity deeply embedded in seeds. Like people, seeds retain memory. These are memories of ecological relationships between seeds and their dispersal methods, seeds and their landscapes, seeds and the climate. Like people, seeds learn from each generation and produce more resilient and adaptable progeny. The diversity of seeds is important not only to ecosystems all over the planet but also for food security and sovereignty for humans. Sadly, like many living things on earth, seed biodiversity is disappearing to the pressure of monocultures and productive landscapes. This genetic erosion threatens to undermine the systems of food and farming that we rely on. And with it, goes the cultural foundation in which seeds connect people to the earth and each-other. Native Americans believe that seeds are partners in the Creation Story and that they are literally ancestors that need to be protected. We live in a world today where the ancient practice of seed saving is more than practical, it is a symbol of resilience as an act of resistance.
But not only are seeds a critical part of life on earth, seeds are beautiful and inspiring. They are natural born travelers. The amazing diversity of shapes, sizes and colors reflects the brilliant functionality and whimsy of nature. What is it about the quotidian dandelion seed head that has captured our imagination? It pokes up from the ground nearly everywhere it has opportunity. First, as a golden burst of color turning quickly into a translucent feathery sphere. Its effortless fractal symmetry reveals the hidden sacredness of geometry. We can all relate to the wishful joy of blowing the achene off the stem and watching them float off in the wind. This incredible seed dispersal mechanism has allowed dandelions to colonize much of the temperate world and join the despised ranks of the most adaptable and resilient class of seeds in the world, the weed. There is much we can learn from seeds if we look closely. It is always a season for seeds. They are abundant in our lives and landscapes throughout the year; they are in our kitchen every day, and underfoot right outside our door. Yet we carry on right beside them unaware of their motives. Each seed has a mission to unlock life in one way or another. We can either stand in their way or we can steward their full potential.
- LYNN PEEMOELLER
SEEDS SEMINAR, MLA & MARCH, FALL 2020 LYNN PEEMOELLER, LECTURER STUDENTS BOWEN CHAI
ZHYI FENG
JIAQI GUO
YUHAO JI
YIQI JIANG
WILLIAM KAPP
MENGYING LI
JIAN LIANG
LEI LIU
HAIHAN QU
NATHAN STANFELD
BOHAN WANG
SHENG WANG
CHUANYE XU
YIQI XU
XUE YING
MINZI ZHANG
QI ZHANG
BING ZHAO SPECIAL THANKS TO TEACHING ASSISTANT NANQI WANG AND THE SUPPORT OF THE MASTER OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM
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tudents of the Seeds Seminar (MLA/MARCH Fall 2020) were asked to
study seeds through the representation between the form, functionality and relationships between seeds and humans. As a result, what has been found is a greater empathy for the non-human plant world that we live with and rely on. By studying seeds, we get a better understanding of how plants live and exist in ecosystems. We notice plants more in situ year- round. What is represented in this catalog is a sampling of work throughout the semester like the hands-on practice of seed saving and seed sprouting. The tactile experience of handling seeds at both ends of the plant’s life allows us to tap into the great potential that each seed contains. Student work is also a sketch of the possibility that seeds offer humans as design inspiration and a deeper connection between place and ourselves through the tiny travelers that are also our teachers.
ABOUT THE CLASS
INDEX 1 2 3
SEED SAVING
SEED CASE STUDY
SEED SPROUTING
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SEED SAVING
HAIHAN QU - CARDINAL FLOWER
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1
07
SEED SAVING
XUE YING - ROSE MALLOW
08
1
SEED SAVING
Open Pollinated Magnolia Seed Saving Interestingly, Magnolia trees are some of the oldest trees on the White House grounds, planted by Andrew Jackson in memory of his wife after her death in 1828. I chose Magnolias to experiment with seed saving techniques on as an open-pollinated plant for our class because Magnolias are believed to be the earliest known flowering plants. Fossils of Magnolias have dated over 100 million years old.1 Since Magnolia trees existed even before bees; they primarily rely on beetles for their open-pollination. The fragrant creamy-white Magnolia flowers grow to about six inches and produce large quantities of pollen that beetles use for food. Bees and hummingbirds also can take part in the pollination of this medium-sized low maintenance evergreen tree. Magnolias are wet seeds that come from a fleshy red fruit. In this area of Missouri, the tree keeps their leaves all winter and shed them when new leaves appear in the Spring.2 The beautiful white summer flowers of the Magnolia grandiflora tree are followed in the fall of the year with seed pods resembling woody cones that open to reveal bright red berries which contain the seeds. Squirrels, birds, and other wildlife love the tasty fruit so one must act fast in order to obtain the pods which hold the seeds. The berries must be picked from the pod when they are bright red and fully ripe.3 The fleshy berry is removed from the seed by soaking them in water overnight or up to two days. The outer coating is then separated from the seed by rubbing it against a wire screen with a heavy cloth or a small brush. The seeds are allowed to dry for a day. Magnolia seeds need to be stored in a cool place or refrigerated and do not have a long shelf life. Ultimately, for the best chance of growth, the stratification process of the Magnolia seed needs to be started soon; it requires that the seeds removed from the package be soaked in water for 24 hours and then placed in a container of moist (but not dripping wet) sand.4 The seeds then can be stored like this undisturbed in a refrigerator for four months (roughly 120 days). In the spring, the Magnolia seeds which should have sprouted with the stratification can be planted into the ground or in pots. The seeds should be placed where they receive partial to full sun in well-drained area and should be covered initially with only 0.5 cm of soil. The seeds cannot be stored any longer than four months. The following are photos of my process of wet seed saving from the open-pollinated Magnolia.
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WILLIAM KAPP - MAGNOLIA
References: 1. Carroll, Jackie “Propagating Magnolia Seeds: How to Grow a Magnolia Tree from a Seed.” Gardening Know How . 09 September 2020. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/magnolia/propagating-magnoliaseeds.html 2. Balogh, Anne. “Magnolia Trees.” Garden Design . https://www.gardendesign.com/trees/magnolia.html 3. VanBuren, Jeff. “Best Magnolias for Zone 6” Home Nursery . March 2015. /www.homenursery.com/blog/bid/277820/Best-Magnolias-For-Zone-6-Reviews#:~:text=Magnolia%20acuminata%20or%20Cucumber%20Tree,up%20to%204%20 inches%20across. 4. “Magnolia Seeds.” The Incredible Seeds. https://www.incredibleseeds.ca/products/magnoliaseeds-cucumber-tree.
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2
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SEED CASE STUDY
JIAQI GUO - SUN FLOWER
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2
13
SEED CASE STUDY
MENGYING LI - PAWPAW
14
2
15
SEED CASE STUDY
SHENG WANG - SWISS CHEESE PLANT
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2
17
SEED CASE STUDY
BING ZHAO - COCONUT TREE
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2
19
SEED CASE STUDY
BOHAN WANG - SACRED LOTUS
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2
21
SEED CASE STUDY
NATHAN STANFIELD - MUSTARD
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3
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SEED SPROUTING
LEI LIU - MUNG
BOWEN CHAI - GARLIC
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3
25
SEED SPROUTING
CHUANYUE XU - MUNG
YIQI XU - PURSLANE
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IMAGE CREDITS i. dandelion Bethesda. Accessed January 14, 2021. https://bethesdamagazine.com/july-august-2019/dandelion-summer/ ii. sweet gum SJR. Accessed January 14, 2021. https://www.sj-r.com/article/20130825/NEWS/308259943?template=ampart iii. cat tail The Pond Guy. Accessed January 14, 2021. https://www.thepondguy.com/product/dwarf-cattail/water-gardens-fish-ponds-bog-plants back cover iStock. Accessed January 14, 2021. http://www.seniorcorrespondent.com/articles/2018/09/17/nuts-and-heart-health.3260917