Marcella ~ Nice list!! Looks like we both garden with similar colors in our gardens. And I'm a HUGE WS'er as well! I am interested in the following seeds from your list: Coreopsis 'Red Shift' Coreopsis 'Autumn Blush' Coreopsis 'Full Moon' Crocosmia (orange) Crocosmia (red) Aster 'September Ruby' Yarrow 'Red Apple Blossom' Yarrow 'Wine' Daylily 'Janice Brown' Snowberry Besh I have loads of varieties of Foxgloves and Zinnias I've recently purchased and/or harvested. I also have some Amaranthus Ponytails and I'll have to check, but I should have some Black eyed susan vine seeds left. Please email me if you'd like a detailed list to work out a trade. Thanks! ~Wendy

I agree with Al completely... They would need a significant hardening off process, and if your Z8 is like this Z8 where the weather can be unpredictable into March, there is the chance you would need to move them someplace protected depending on the forecast for your area - which you would watch. I've sown them late summer/Fall and left them outdoors - germination takes place then in late winter and those seedlings which have germinated outside will withstand my late winter frosts.

Yes, layers of something over the top after you've dug will be helpful to attract more worms to do your work over winter. Our local feed store lets you sweep up after their bales of straw & hay. They even have a dumpster they dump it into separate from other wastes, so you can go & scoop it out. Alfalfa is an amazing soil amendment. Sure you have stems, but those leaves will jump start your soil for spring! I used to worry about weed seeds, but I think I have more weeds blowing in the wind than I find in hay around here. I cover the hay with coffee grounds as well as a layer of soil to help speed things along. Also have used burlap bags successfully. They darken with time and blend in looking like soil, so the neighbors don't see the coarse lasagna layers. Go easy on yourself & layer it up! I've done it many different times & it always works by spring.

Goodness, I certainly would wait. I don't clean up spilled seed since the ground feeders-Dark-eyed Juncos, White-throated and Fox Sparrows, etc.- eat it. But seed on the ground also attracts vermin-chipmunks, squirrels, rats, etc., which is where my Jack Russell Terrier comes in. He mostly stays inside but when he senses a rodent he asks to be let out into the side yard and goes after them, even diving under the side deck where they like to hide.