To contain seeds, I use organza mesh bags placed over each ripening pod, just in case I forget to gather the pod at the right time. This seems to foil the ants, which otherwise carry off the seeds. Of course, it's fun to find new plants in the lawn too. I started doing this to collect PC Iris seeds, which always seem to open explosively right when I'm busy in late summer. It increased my take of iris seeds by at least a factor of 5. Sold as organza party bags in a range of colors. Seeds that need presoaking in water can be kept in the same bags for the soaking period. Kathleen Pacific Northwest coast, zone 8, cool dry summers, mild wet winters