I am especially fond of the zesty four-o’clocks that appear each May in my garden, and the lovely old memories they bring.  

Sixty years ago, my mother discovered a few dark brown seeds in a little cloth purse that belonged to her grandmother. Grandma Sarah had a tiny cottage garden in Pittsburgh sometime before 1930. A holdout to big business, her small property was sandwiched between Westinghouse Electric and Westinghouse Corporate. Despite the encompassing shadows of big brother, every spring a rainbow of trumpet-shaped blossoms brightened her garden.

Amidst a wild and fragrant profusion of rosy magenta flowers she sat and rocked perhaps talking to friends about her tasks for the day. Sometime in late August, I imagine, she gathered the large four-o’clock seeds and stored them in the cloth purse for next season. Perhaps, she too shared seeds with friends, unaware that her great-granddaughter might someday enjoy them, too.

After Grandma Sarah passed on, her meager collection of belongings were shared between her two granddaughters. Westinghouse devoured her home. Mama received the small brown purse. To her surprise and delight, inside was a precious gift of seed that would bloom and endure through several generations. I have gardened in five different California regions from freezing winters to semi-tropical climes. Every spring Grandma Sarah’s four-o’clocks highlighted each garden.

Unlike popular varieties sold in today’s garden centers, with striped and spotted flowers, Sarah’s old-fashioned blossoms keep to shades of a single color. What a surprise when last year a strident pale salmon appeared. I attributed this to the honeybees who also liked Grandmother Sarah’s flowers. These 16th-century natives from Peru last for three months.

After they fade, the seeds remain tightly clutched in a small green cradle. When they are ripe, I gently bend the heads shaking the seed into a paper bag labeled for safekeeping next year.

Grandma Sarah’s one-room house was cold during Pennsylvania winters and her seeds remained in her little purse. But, excessive heat can destroy the seeds vigor. If temperatures rise excessively in your area, store the seed in a freezer or refrigerator

Many gardeners I know also save seeds of old-fashioned flowers and vegetables, gratified with the results that germinate rapidly. Big lima beans and pole beans, peas, sunflowers and hardy nasturtium seeds are extra special rewards from a summer fare — sometimes with fascinating surprises. Not all seeds respond as readily as four-o’clocks, but you will soon find the ones that do. Seed swaps are popular especially in rural areas where old-fashioned flowers and vegetables are common. Wildflower seeds are especially fun to save. Rather than pull plants in the wild, wait until they are dry then carefully gather a few heads, store properly and plant the following season.

Four-o’clocks tolerate poor soil, but prefer friable loams. Similarly, a sunny location is ideal, but partial shade will be tolerated.

Propagating your own natural garden with last summer’s seeds is like greeting old friends the following spring.