It probably depends on the variety. Hettie and Awakening bloomed in their pots. Hettie rapidly grew way beyond a band. The others are sluggish. I think I wouldn't normally buy bands unless it was the only way or an exceptional outlet you know you will send you quality plants. It takes them too long to do much. Except Hettie. There seems to be a fine line between bands and some young roses like my Graham Thomas last year and my two Reine des Violettes this year. The latter weren't in very good shape when they arrived yesterday, but they will replace them if they don't come round by fall which is nice. I wanted them so badly, I'm willing to accept them as they are, and I wanted ones from that particular seller because not all are predictably the same even if they are named the same. IMHO.

Pam, if you purchased the seeds commercially, they will often indicate if they bloom the first year because it's a selling point. Many perennials do not bloom the first year as they focus energy on building their root systems. As far as the influence of early sowing, yes, there are some that can be impacted. For example, the verbascum I sowed said that it may bloom the first year if sown as early as January in a mild climate. Not sure how that translates for WS seeds in my zone 6b/7a, so I'm really expecting that they won't bloom. Thanks so much for all of the feedback. I think I'm going to take a variety of approaches. I may pot some up where I don't have beds ready yet. In the front gardens, some I'll plant and appreciate the foliage this year, while filling in with annuals that I also WS'd and direct sowed. I already ordered a few delphiniums in addition to the ones I WS, so I'll take quilt mommy's approach there! I have extensive plans for new beds in my back yard, so I'll probably plant a lot of my wintersown perennials back there and won't have a ton of bloom this year. When they bloom next year, I'll have the advantage of seeing their bloom color before I consider moving some to the front garden. Of course I'll have to consider which resent transplant before I take that approach (like lupines). Thank you all, again! Lisa

Congratulations!!! You waited and now you have your just reward !! Awesome!! Do you mean to pick the flower after it opens fully to enjoy in the house? To place in a cute little vase with water? If so.. Wait until its fully open. Then just bend where the bloom meets the stem. You will see once you try the first time. If you are talking about the whole inflo... I would wait until all have bloomed and let it fall off naturally. You might have seed pods that may form, so I never take the whole inflo off.. I hope that answers your question? To enjoy the open blooms.. Use your fingers and bend at the bottom of the bloom stem. You will see. Enjoy!!! I'll go out and take a pic for you. Be back in a few. Take care and congratulations!!! Laura

Thank you all for your advice and pictures. I just LOVE them! After a weekend of being laid up again (fell off a machine at the gym and totally wrecked my back but am finally feeling a bit better now), I am hopingto get out there and prune this coming three day (can you say YEA!) weekend! Still on the fence about my climber as she is throwing out all sorts of laterals right now so this could be a good bloom year unlike prior years. She may have just had to have more time to come into her own. However, I am seeing that there are all sorts of little oak trees and other plants coming up through my rose bushes due to the mulch and birds. UGH! I may have lost my Sharifa Asma because of it if I can't pull them out. I have a feeling my garden is going to be very sparse this year due to a bunch of new roses going in to replace my old ones. Evelyn and Ambridge are reverting back to rootstock, so out they go. I have oak trees growing up in my Sharifa Asma as well as Evelyn, Mary Webb and now one of my Brother Cadfaels! I also have another unidentified bush growing up in my Peach Blossom. So it looks like I pretty much get to start from scratch all over again. Looks like an expensive year!