vera, So far none of the self-sown ones have come back purple...they were my favorites! Arrrghhh. Haven't seen too many poppies around, but they could get cross pollinated anyway. All I need is for it to cross (or revert) with an orange one! But that lily place, they harvest the seeds; so far they seem consistent. Maybe yours were harvested from a garden where there are other poppies? If they don't self seed true, I'll keep buying these as long as they offer them. They do give you a lot, could have filled 6 jugs with them rather than the 3. I'm fascinated with crosses, but don't want these to. carrie, I bet you go out everyday and just look at it in awe I was watching the buds, but thought it would be a few more days yet. Once they raise their heads, they open fast. Sure made my day when I went out this morning to check if my seedlings needed water and saw that. I may have a few more WS flowering later on, some probably won't this year, but I mainly grow roses, and most everything else is for companion plants or accents but not all. There's only one rose in that bed, and they will never bloom at the same time. Stuck out a bunch of true blue alliums in front last fall. They sure bloom for a long time, are getting a little ratty now. I planted some coreopsis from a previous year's pack of 25-cent seeds about 3 years ago. They were singles, and I was disappointed. Now this year most are beautiful doubles and really look nice with the roses, should mark those plants and save the seeds from them. But they may not come true either. Maybe I will divide them because the yellow would look pretty with the poppies if they come back. Gotta get some chores done and more problems to solve! Thanks much for the feedback.

Welcome newbie in nj. The first year is one of questions and wondering if this is going to REALLY work. I have had such good germination and growth through wintersowing that my problem is too many seedlings so this last time I sowed thinly for those that I expected to HOS. If I wanted 4-6 plants and the seed isn't tiny I sowed 9-12 seeds per milk jug and even then had more seedlings than needed. I place 2-3 seeds in a 2L if I want 1 tomato/pepper seedling. I keep some seed as a back up plan. Perhaps the seedling got eaten by critters after it was planted out, or stepped on, or the first container didn't germinate, or seedling got frosted. Maybe I will want more of those seedlings another year and wasn't able to collect seed. Then I still have some seed to try again. I do not sow multiple containers unless I want lots of that plant. Haven't needed two containers of sprouts or two containers which didn't sprout. If I'm not sure if I should winter sow or wait until spring then I will winter sow and if they haven't germinated by spring I might sow another container then. As for spacing, many of us ignore all spacing requirements not only when sowing but also when planting out. With HOS it doesn't matter if the spacing is as stated. The strongest seedling will survive or a clump of seedlings will grow. I think having so many seedlings encourages us to plant them closer together with intermingling lush plantings resulting. Most seeds can be stored for many years. Search "storing seeds" here or on the seed collecting and other sites for more discussion on how others store seeds and for germination tests. I use seeds for years. Germination is sometimes lower but I still have too many seedlings. My tomato seeds still germinate well after four years. I don't know what "raw seed" is in referring to grass. I sow a shallow gallon pot lightly with grass seed. Then plant out as a clump or divide into two or four clumps. Little Bluestem doesn't get all that tall. Big Bluestem gets much taller. I love the multiple colors shading Little Bluestem. Bunny Tails looked great planted as one clump. Have fun and remember that you can always sow more seed in the spring, in the summer, in the fall or the next winter. I have family who spend their time in Clifton or on a farm in NY. In which part of NJ are you located? Bobbie

I am definitely excited, Wendy. I have a fantastic sunroom that is wonderful for plants, but is not very big. I have already planted more plants than I could ever have planted inside. I have always had to choose the one or two or three plants that I just had to try and then only plant a pot or two of them. One of them always had to be tomatoes of course so that cut down even more on my flowers! This year I might just be able to have a garden that starts to resemble the one that I really want to have!! :) Now if I can just keep myself from starting my annuals too early, I will be doing something! LOL Lois

Dave - I don't cook often but when I do - I do it well!!! My sauce is very simple. And everyone that has ever tasted it says it is the best they had. I am not bragging here. The trick was passed down to me by my great grandmother. In the past, I used Tutta Rose Crushed Tomatoes with Basil. And did nothing more than add some salt, pepper, basil and meat. And still made a better sauce than anyone. Now, with using my own tomatoes, I used the same princeples. But since I couldn't can the tomatoes with basil, I added alot of basil. Some salt and Pepper. And added meat. I took a meatball recipe from the "Soprano's Cookbook" but used half ground beef and half pork for the meatballs. I swear by this. The meatballs are so much better. My mom does all beef. And her meatballs are so heavy. The ground pork lightens them up a bit and gives the sauce a better flavor. I also added a few links of browned italian sausage. So on that note - yes, I did cook for an army but I froze several quarts. And with fresh tomatoes, I don't think I could have made a better sauce. I am not sure how I can do this with less tomatoes, cook it for a few hours and still get the same flavor, but I am going to experiment this winter. I'll keep you posted!!!