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

Hey Guys, I changed the web address to the blog. So the old links on here will not take you to my site. You can find any of the pages you are looking for by copying the titles and putting into my site search widget. I don't want to bombard your timelines by reloading all the pages on here. Sorry for the inconvenience! Thank you all for reading my blog! I Wuv You you guys :) http://onthecheapanamericandream.wordpress.com/ Here is a link that might be useful: New link, same garden!

Thanks Ed, That is kind of what I had read about the blooming. By next year I should know when they will bloom - at least in relation to my known cultivars! Last fall I was trying to record the foliage type of my baby seedlings some of which had even gotten big enough to send up scapes their first summer. As our fall progressed it was fairly easy I thought to tell the foliage type. Then someone told me the foliage type wasn't reliable in first year seedlings- that they could do something different the next year. I still have my data and will be looking at them again this fall to see if I was right. I tried this spring but it wasn't as easy as in the fall. It sounded kind of strange to me because a plant should know right off the bat if it is going to go dormant or not. I can understand a baby seedling being somewhat different to their mature state - like bloom size and height etc. but dormancy didn't sound like something that would develop. I guess I will see this fall. It is interesting. Debbie

What to Expect the First Year, and What to Expect, the Toddler years were both used a lot in my house. The quick reference guide in the back was great when DD was sick or if she fell, or like the time she touched the stove and got a burn. Lots of good ideas, as well as a lot of good quick reference items when it's midnight and something comes up.