Misc. Gallery

In fall 2023, a friend gave me two Sea Island cotton plants which she dug out of the ground, one producing brown cotton and the other green cotton. The bolls needed a little more time to mature, and my warm studio was the perfect place. Many years ago, I read about a woman who maintained a cotton plant year round. This became my goal -- I just needed some mature cotton seeds. 

I was able to keep the plant alive long enough to allow the seeds to develop.

In spring 2024, I planted three different types of cotton seeds -- Sea Island Brown, Sea Island Green, and an unknown species. Soon, I had 48 seedlings requiring my attention. I made a decision to keep one of each type and to give the rest away. A misstep while carrying the trays led to them getting jumbled. I ended up keeping six seedlings, one from each tray, to ensure that I would have one of each type.

My previous experience growing cotton in 2020 taught me that the plant does poorly when it is transferred to a pot after growing outside in the ground. So, I am growing these plants in pots in my studio, and I am using grow lights. Cotton is a perennial plant, and my goal is to keep the plants healthy and productive for as long as possible. The plants are starting to produce flowers.

Now, I wait to see if the immature cotton boll will continue to develop and if more bolls will appear.