Thank goodness for internet ordering, then... :)

They had a half-price sale in November I believe - got the email, but it was too early for me to think about buying seeds................They do usually have one in the spring sometime also - around the time as everyone else (Garden's North etc.).

Patrick Studio has a seed sale on up to 50% off.

Yes, I've had some for many years and they are totally hardy. Like most of the plants we grow, they prefer humusy soil and regular moisture, sun or part shade - other than that, no special needs that I've seen. The species I've had the longest and my favorite is Astrantia carniolica 'Rubra' (since pre-1999; i.e. from before I transferred my records from plant markers to an excel spreadsheet!) - it appears to bloom through the entire season. What I mean is that it starts to bloom in late June and goes for a very long time, and even when the flowers are no longer fresh, they retain their color and shape right through to hard frost. I like the dark pinky-red and long bloom of this one, particularly. Also have had a couple of selections of A. major ('Roma', 'Sunningdale Variegated') for some time - also hardy; I find the lighter colored flowers (pinkish, whitish) on these turn turn brownish when they are spent, so rather less interesting...but still certainly worth planting. The foliage is also nice-looking, with interestingly-shaped leaves that provide a nice contrast in the border. My advice? Buy them.