Hikers along the hydro line near Powell River, B.C. sometimes stop to admire some vivid red poppy blooms, not knowing that the gorgeous flowers grew from seeds cast by a fellow hiker, Jayne Rutledge-Fogarty.

“It all started with my dad and his seed collecting,” says Jayne, an artist, photographer and vintner.

“He would ask people if he could mark the flower with a piece of string and later collect the seeds. When he died, we found old film containers full of seeds, so we mixed them all in a bowl and divided them three ways among my brother, sister and I.”

The seeds originally collected by Jayne’s dad, Floyd, are the gift that keeps on giving.

“I scattered mine at my home in Powell River and along the hydro pole line…calendula, yellow iris, columbine, red poppy to name a few,” says Jayne. “A lot of people used the line for walks and there is enough rain out here in BC to keep them watered. Just some bright spots for them to enjoy.”

Jayne grew up in Don Mills and as a dancer studied at Canada’s National Ballet school. Her mom, Winifred, taught ballet. Today, Jayne is a fabric artist and vintner of fine wines such as the award-winning Chrome Island Red.

Seeds of hope and beauty — Jayne’s fabric art

She’s also a proud parent, grandma, appreciator of the natural world… and gardener.

Some of the plants from Powell River came with Jayne when she moved to Denman Island. She still collects seeds from them and “I scatter whenever I get the chance.”

Some seeds have even gone from sea to sea. “I still have tiger lilies from seeds my dad brought out west from my grandmother’s home in New Brunswick.”

“My dad passed on his love of gardening to all of us.”

Jayne Rutledge-Fogarty