Bah! those seeds will be totally fine. They can all take a frost and come back smiling. The seeds are more resilient than the tender leaves, and in my garden all those things can laugh in the face of frost even after they've germinated. The leaf lettuce in my garden took six or seven hard frosts last spring where it would be frozen solid in the morning, but the warmth of the day would thaw it and it would be delicious and crisp and ready to eat by dinner. I wouldnt worry at all about those seeds.

Hi Liz - Yes, I'm sort of making my own botanical garden. The two main flower gardens total 3000 square feet. I plan to establish about 150 - 250 different types of flowers there and those will end up being personal nursery stock and seed farm plants to use to expand out to other parts of our land. It should also give me plenty of flowers to fuss over and enjoy. We'll also be using tire gardens as nursery beds for plants that need richer soil or better water retention than they can get in the main garden. Outside of the main garden the next places to colonize with flowers have less hospitable growing conditions, but the tougher plants should be able to grow there if transplants go in at the right time (before seasonal rains) or if direct sown really heavily. Those areas are another 3000 sq ft section of slope along our driveway, a 10,000 sq ft plot of hillside outside of our fenced "goatland" area, and a 1000 x 20 swatch of road frontage and rock outcroppings (also outside of goatland.) But the ultimate master plan is to seed farm enough seed to direct sow heavily in our 15 acre fenced goatland area and have sufficient seed so that there's a chance that at least a couple of plants reach flowering stage before the goats eat them. This year I have an additional 40,000 or so seeds (beyond the 42,000+ WS seeds) that I'll direct sow into goat land. Next winter and in Spring 2010 I want to be able to have buckets and buckets full of flower seed to direct sow out there. I like the idea of the goats and cow strolling through hills full of posies. :) As crazy as it sounds, it's actually going to be cheaper than buying and sowing plain old pasture grass seed. A lot more work, maybe, but that personal botanical garden will make it all worth it. I think that long term my personal botanical garden is going to be made up of lots of perennials and then whatever annuals do really well with WS methods (both January and April/May sowings). Any plant that needs more fuss than that is likely to get replaced with someone who's more agreeable. In upcoming years I expect my WS numbers to drop off quite a bit but my seed saving amounts to go utterly crazy. Confining the sowing and planting out to Winter and early Spring ~should~ leave me time to actually enjoy the flowers. It should be cool if it works! And if it doesn't I'll just fill my garden with four o'clocks, comos, zinnias and white marigolds and enjoy it anyway. I think it's going to work, though. Lynda

Thank you leafhead, now you are just exhausting me! :-) I am out of room for any thing larger than Marigolds, snapdragons and yes, asters. I cannot decide which asters to get. They recommend Aster lateriflorus 'Lady in Black' and Aster novi belgii Alert (red), for my area. I did find a great plant list just for the Texas High Plains, so I think I will try their local varieties. They also sell plants, however it is a long drive, but they do have native milkweed, several varieties, I would like to try. Next year I will have time to put in more garden space, as I do away with more lawn, but for now I am full-up! I think I will learn alot this summer, and by next spring I should know more about what is good for me as far as natives, and if I see butterflies I did not expect, I will plant what I can to meet their needs. I am very excited about my first season. I don't think I have a chance of seeing either a Giant or a Tiger Swallowtail. The sulfurs we get are happy with grasses, so I have that covered. I do need Violets! The list never ends.... Thanks again, Debra

Glad I came back up here to look for replies! Yay! I got the good dirt! :D I had no idea what I was doing. The guy at the co-op recommended this. I knew we were anti-Hyponex and pro co-op mix, but that's all I knew. :) Uh oh...no styrofoam? Bummer. I just did a few, and so easy to poke holes in the bottom. I tried poking holes in the yogurt cup first and split it. Oops. I think a plastic container sounds like a good idea to house everything, drilling holes in the top. Do I also have to make drainage holes in the bottom? I do have a paint pen. It's one of those Deco-Color from Michael's craft store.