Bloom Seed Library

05/25/2026

One of our giant poppies in honor of Memorial Day.

05/09/2026

05/08/2026

Berwick High School's Flourish Club is having an amazing plant sale on Saturday. Go get some plants and also support the next generation of growers and environmental stewards!

05/04/2026

Macro Monday

Every week, we photograph a seed from our library with a microscope to reveal its hidden textures, quirks, and beauty.

Seed donated by: Ferry-Morse
Seed common name: Cosmos
Seed scientific name: Cosmos bipinnatus (most common garden cosmos)
Size in imperial units: Approximately ¼ inch long (about 6-7 mm)
Germination time: 7-21 days, depending on soil warmth (ideal: 70-75°F)

Fun Fact:
Cosmos seeds look like tiny black spearheads, and that shape is functional. Their long, narrow form helps them wedge into small cracks in soil after falling from the plant, improving their chances of anchoring. Under magnification, you’ll often see fine surface ridges that increase friction, helping the seed stay put during wind or rain. Despite their delicate, airy flowers, cosmos seeds are surprisingly tough and can remain viable even after brief dry spells or rough handling. This is one of the reasons Cosmos are so great in a wildflower garden!

04/26/2026

Bloomsburg Renaissance Jamboree was cold and rainy and also wonderful! We always meet such kind and amazing people doing this. Thank you to all who made it out and warmed us in the rain!

04/20/2026

Macro Monday
Every week, we photograph a seed from our library with a microscope to reveal its hidden textures, quirks, and beauty.

Seed donated by: Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Seed common name: Celery
Seed scientific name: Apium graveolens
Size in imperial units: Approximately 1/16 inch long (about 0.06 inches)
Germination time: 14–21 days, but often slow and erratic without light; celery is a light dependent germinator.

Fun Fact:
Celery seeds are covered in tiny oil canals called vittae. They are tiny grooves that store the aromatic compounds responsible for celery’s strong scent. Under magnification, these grooves look like parallel ridges running along the seed coat. The seed is also naturally ribbed, which increases surface area and helps it absorb moisture slowly, contributing to its famously stubborn germination. Despite being so small, each seed contains 2 to 3% essential oil, which is why celery seed is used as a spice.

04/19/2026

Agriculture Awareness Day at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds was amazing, today. Board Advisor Aiden, and Board President Dave staffed our table and connected with hundreds of people from our community. It was so hopeful to be with other organizations working to protect and teach about the natural world as well as showcase organizations that help locally. Dozens and dozens of kids excitedly planted some peas and beans to take home, took stickers, and checked out beet seeds in our microscope. We met many great people and can't wait to do it again next year!

04/16/2026

Foraging some spring herbal tea ingredients. Dandelion heads, common wild Violets, Lilac flowers, Yarrow leaves, Raspberry leaves, and Purple Dead Nettle.

04/13/2026

Macro Monday

We're doing something a little different in our Macro Monday post today. As we're prepping our gardens for new items, we're finding the signs of life that can often be overlooked due to flowers and food. While adding some straw and biomass to one bed, we found a moth pupa. We think it's beautiful. Moths are not only forgotten pollinators but a critical part of the food web. Sadly, some moth species are in decline. Seeing pupa like this in the garden is a very good sign. Enjoy the intricate beauty that goes into such an amazing metamorphosis!