Hi Catankgirl, congratulations!! Lovely pics. You've done very well - you got a bloom on your first try so now you'll be hooked for sure. I am not familiar with Catchfly, but these are a beautiful colour and it seems you've got a volunteer tomato plant. Don't give up, it gets better each year. Thanks for sharing.
Northerner.

That sure does look like a tomato volunteer. I think even though you are in a completely different climate from me, it has been a bad year all around for a lot of us.

Please don't give up on winter sowing. You should definitely try again next year.

Thanks guys. It's just frustrating not knowing exactly what happened either. I also didn't realize until it was too late the difference between potting soil and potting mix, so I at least have lot of things to try different next year.

I forgot that I got a Salvia Silver White sprout in a ws container too. Exactly two of them. But they've been planted out and doing well for awile now, so even though I'm bummed now at all the things that didn't work, I'll be happy at the ones that do. Bright side and all, right?

them are so pretty!! :')) next year try the stay green potting soil, i bought it at lowes, in 3 cu ft for 10.99 i think and it works great!! and the amount!! wow!!! LOL if ya want they have aqua control which is great to i think. LOL my stuff came out great, i'm just waiting on a few things, like 1/4 of the stuff to turn out. so not to bad for my first time.

Thanks medontodo. I think the right potting stuff will be much better too. I keep thinking that the stuff will dry out way too quick in my climate, but I bet with the water control stuff even, and maybe some bottom watering, that won't be too much of a problem as I think. I'm definately going to try again at least a little next year and hope I have as much luck as you guys. ;)

I keep looking at the viscaria bloom, it looks so pitiful! Ha! I was just so exicited at the time. I'm definately going to get better pictures when there are more blooms.

You'll always remember your first bloom.... it's a special sight.

Good luck with the rest - next year you will do so much better - it takes a bit of practice and you'll never want to buy plants again!

Carrie

The catchfly is surely pretty! You know, you could try a little summer sowing with perennials that don't need cold strat. Or even some fast growing annuals. Like a practice run for next winter. The perens can grow on this summer and get established; they'll give you some blooms next year. That way, you'd get a head start on knowing what to use next year, and some plants too.

PV

Yes, I do want to do some summer sowing too. Problem is we are going out of town for two weeks as soon as the kids are out of school and we get no rain in summer in CA and we don't have sprinklers. :( So no starting containers until we get back in July. But I might try a few then, but not too much, cuz you know, July!

Also, I have been starting seeds in newspaper pots in my garage window sill. I was just hoping to get wsing to work so I could do MORE at a time, lol. But I'm having some success with the newspaper pots too and will have some other pretty blooms, so you guys don't think I'm too pitiful. lol I'll post some pics as it all comes along. I'm learning slowly but surely. I'm definatley hooked on the gardening thing now, it's just a matter of finding what works best for me and my climate and my penny-pinching ways. ;)

Thanks for letting me join in though, I love reading here and all the info and ideas and gorgeous motivating pics!