To reply to the question in the initial post in this thread... I start my pumpkins just before a stretch of forecast sunny warm weather in late May. I sprout the seeds indoors kind of like bean sprouts... put them in a plastic tub like an old sour cream container, cover with a j-cloth held on with a rubber band, then wet and drain the seeds several times per day. At a constant indoor temp of 20 or 22 degrees they usually start to sprout in 2-4 days (might take longer if your seeds are old and some varieties take longer than others). So I set up my jars about 3 days before a forecast stretch of warm weather, then the just-sprouted seeds are ready to plant when the warm weather hits. For the first month or so I grow them under mini-greenhouse tents (about 6' long by 3' wide, almost like rowcovers but different, they were sold by Vesey's some years ago). I keep them under the mini-greenhouses until they fill them up, usually by late June, then I remove the cover and let them grow in the open. When they start to bloom, I hand-pollinate until I'm good and sure the bees have found the flowers. Sounds like an effort I guess, but I quite enjoy fussing over them, so it's more fun than anything else.

Desertdance, a suggestion to see butterflies is to build a dripping water feature allowing the water to drip on a slanted rock. The bamboo drippers you see in stores would work. Get a small water pump, dig a hole deep enough to bury a container. The container should be wide enough to contain the pump and the main rock. Put container in ground, Put the pump in the container add enough water to submerge pump, set at lowest speed, plug in to make certain it works. If works unplug and put a screen arround the pump. I have used pantyhose bought for the purpose (I don't wear them)using the opening for the various wires, spouts etc. Put covered pump back in water. Keep wires etc hanging over edge of container. It is a B***H to fish them out. Start layering rocks or gravel to almost top of container. Place large rock where water will drip over it. Add additional water to surface of layered rocks with main rock sticking above so that water will run over surface. Turn on pump and let rock become saturated. Early in the morning you may have butterflies come. The moistened rock releases small amounts of minerals that the butterflies use in their bodies along with a small amount of water. Be aware that in a hot dry climate until the rocks become saturated you may have to add water to prevent the pump from burning up. This may atract bees and other things so expect the unexpected. I have seen in magazines something similar using an oval 3-5 gallon metal planter that had 2-3 inches of the container exposed so you have an additional visual effect. Think oval laundry basket shape except metal. A water pump in a tin tub is an other effect. If you have a World Market in your area they sometimes have bamboo drippers in kits and a selection of containers. I can not go to World Market very often because they carry Lindt chocolate bars about a $1.00 or so cheaper than any other store.

An update, many months later!! I winter-sowed a bunch of them back in January and most of them germinated! I was shocked and thrilled! :) The campion didn't flower this year, but the pink cone flower and black eyed susans produced a few plants that have flowers on them right now. Yay for my first experience with winter sowing!

You mean that seed pod is gonna sit there for the next 4 to 6 months????? Ok Anne, I am breathing a little better now. I guess alot of things can happen in that time. There is such a variety of "pollen" around her that there is no telling what her babies would turn out to look like. AND she could also have been pollinated with her own pollen, correct? Oh well, we may see. You have no idea how much I love that plant! Her leaves are so dark and such a perfect teardrop shape! And she is just growing so well! No setbacks whatever! And those beautifully simple flowers in a very pretty blue! I just love her! I must say thank you again for her! I know. Up to my neck in babies, so what is new !?!? I am starting to get mouse ears on my Senk's (oops forgot the name but it has the word blue in it!) Tried to take a pix but in order to see the little babies I needed a magnifying glass! That is how small they still are. Well, that will be another thread for another day! Rosie