Hi Cooper, You don't have to winter sow anything. But we winter sowers become addicted because the method works beautifully! Winter sowing is great because your seeds don't wash away, blow away, get eaten by bugs and other critters, the seeds are easily identified and kept track of for the most part. Direct sowing still has its moments though. Personally, I think larkspur actually does better direct sown. I also direct sow bachelor buttons,and nigella (love in a mist). My seeds from these plants have already germinated and are thriving despite the snow and dips into the teens that we have had. If any of these seeds are on your list, I'd go ahead and get them out there. They will germinate in their own good time and will survive any weather. From my understanding the seeds I just mentioned like to be sown in the fall anyway. So feel free to get them out as soon as you see bare ground. Natvtxn has a great idea of looking up the seeds on the internet. Also a great idea to throw some out and maybe holding some back for winter sowing or regular under lights sowing or maybe try all 3 methods...whatever you want. Gardening is always a learning experience.

Wasn't me. I hope you let them grow and post pictures when they bloom. You may be surprised and fall head over heals :-) Edna

Morning all, I'm glad to see that people are posting about their seeds making it home. I did a quick check on dc#s this morning and most have been received just note posted yet. Alana, come on! You are one of the best here on the garden web. I'm happy that I could come up with some things to send you! As far as the extras sent, I have waaayyyy to many seeds and needed to reduce my stash. I think everyone got back at least 8 or 9 extra packets. I'm not sure if you remember but I garden for $$ in the nice weather. I had been keeping all my seeds and the bosses seeds seperate.A while back I asked him what he wanted to do with the extras and he said "keep em"! I explained to him that I had a lot of seeds that I only used 10 or 20 out of a package but he has no use for them.I did winter sow 15 cups for his moms house as a Thank you then I divided them up in preparation of this swap. Unfortunetly, I didn't make it through my annuals. I think because first my neck strain, hubby breaking his foot and my dog being sick. There's always next year. I did bring the dog back for a recheck yesterday in the morning....He was in for surgery by noon. I was told the cost would be between $1500 and $1800, that's not including the $220 from the day before! This is so not what I wanted to hear! I'm grateful that I have been with the same vet for 25 years and they will take monthly payments from me for the surgery!!!! I have to look into medical insurance for this one...lol Hopefully the others will post about their seeds so I can wrap this one up. Have a great day Lisa

good morning everyone. hope you are staying warm. it's cold here, has been for the last few days and will be the next couple, but certainly not as cold as i hear on the news of other areas or your postings. i might just spend the day doing some baking or making soup - haven't yet decided, but i'm not doing anything until after a good long soak in the tub. how about that plane down in the hudson? amazing the actions of the pilot and the response of all involved in the rescue. thank God it turned out the way it did. remy, i'm so sorry to hear of your friend's passing. what a sacrifice, all the way around, that she made. ashame she didn't ask for help, or even reach out to the pharmacist to front them until she could pay. it is a disgrace how expensive meds are and pharmacuetical companies should be ashamed of their greed. janell, nice to see you. how are you little girls doing? dottie, i used several methods of labeling. if the seeds were in a little plastic baggie, i put the name inside the bag and pushed it down to the side of the container. i used marker in a zillion places on a container until i found my grease pen, then that's what i switched to. i'm at the point this year to just use up all the seeds i have and plant out anything that grows, whether i know the name or not. i have a horrible problem area of of about 50x12 that needs to just be planted like mad, so that's my intention with whatever takes this year. i have plenty of containers in waiting which need attention soon. my grandbabe is adorable. whenever she sees me rinsing out or picking up a container, she asks if we are going to make a garden. gotta love the early on excitement. my son even helped the other day - went through some seeds, suggested they be planted and then taped up the containers and took them out. small help, but help nonetheless. does anyone grow pussy willow? if so, i'd like to arrange a trade for sometime this year. either white or pink, doesn't matter. just let me know. thanks. melissa, how's your little one? ready to post more pix? i keep hinting around - well, actually coming right out with it - about the kids having another one. i thought for a bit it was to be as my DIL was gaining a little belly and such, but was told no, it's just my cooking and the fact that they are actually eating meals every day (something that wasn't always happening when they were on their own). well, time to get moving. i actually went through all the motions of this being sunday and it was not too long ago i realized it's only saturday. be well and stay warm! maryanne GO EAGLES!!!!!!!!!!!color>