What could you create with a hot glue gun and some of Mother Nature's wild seed pods?

Neil Garrison
·1 min read
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The devil's claw seed pod can be found in the fall season as the growing season comes to an end.
The devil's claw seed pod can be found in the fall season as the growing season comes to an end.

As the growing season comes to an end, a wild plant called the devil's claw becomes festooned with an abundance of unusual seed pods. It is an opportune time to launch out onto a family friendly adventure in search of these strange objects. Once you get back home, the seed pods can be fashioned into some humor-inspired arts & crafts projects.

Where will your imagination take you when you get caught up in creating art projects with devil's claw seed pods?
Where will your imagination take you when you get caught up in creating art projects with devil's claw seed pods?

I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to interject some natural history lore into the discussion about the devil's claw plants. There is a logical explanation as to why the seed pods of this native plant are shaped the way they are. Immense herds of American buffalo used to wander the grasslands hereabouts and the hook on the end of the seed pod functioned as a way for the seed capsule to hitch a ride on the leg hair of these wandering herbivores. As the buffalo walked along, seeds would get shaken out of the attached seed pods. It was a novel way for these wild plants to disperse their seeds.

With a little creativity, a devil's claw seed pod can become a source of inspiration for an arts and crafts project.
With a little creativity, a devil's claw seed pod can become a source of inspiration for an arts and crafts project.

A nature hike afield is a source of family fun. If you can collect some plant seed pods while you are out, all the better. After you return home, some time spent with a hot glue gun can reward you with some unusual arts/crafts creations.

Neil Garrison was the longtime naturalist at a central Oklahoma nature center. His email is atlatlgarrison@hotmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Wild plant seed pods can be your next inspiration for arts & crafts