I bought 1/4 lb of alyssum seed along with my 1 lb of wildflower seeds last year from Wildseed Farms. When I sowed them (they are pretty small seeds) they were quite close, and I got areas here and there a few feet square with a very nice carpet effect and they smell wonderful. I didn't pinch them but there were so many seeds I guess they kind of layered on each other. This year it was an extra 1/4 of poppy seed, but the alyssum either reseeded or the alyssum in the fall sowing of mixed seed is already blooming because some of them are out there already.

I have seen boxes of carpet of snow at Wal-Mart for $1 they are mixed with filler to help in spreading them. Most of the time I have used the seeds from existing plants, you can see the seeds when they are ready to harvest. When I first started my alyssum I found a patch in front of my dentists office and asked if I could take some seeds. Just keep the seeds moist and they should germinate. I have started some of the pink, and blue varieties in a four inch pot, sprinkle on top, press down and put inside a plastic bag. Karen those are two of the cutest garden angels!

BTW - thanks for not laughing at my two pathetic looking boxwood! LOL I appreciate everyone's kindness, and amateur prevention advice is always welcome!! First time homeowners, thank you very much. :) I'm no professional, but I found an interesting article about landscaping & flowers (the link is below) I thought I'd share. It reads that a general guideline to follow is that flower beds should be kept to the rear of the home, or simply to keep the colors in harmony with the home so as not to compete with the home itself. So, maybe I'll have to reconsider the reds and yellows, and add something softer or more neutral, like whites. I think oranges would be nice too (our front door is rust), but I'm not familar with too many flowers in that color range. Anyway, I do like the idea of the white allium in the pachysandra and the dianthus along the wall, combined with the alyssum. I might save the tulips and daffs for my back yard where they'll get more sun. Our soil is very rich, not sandy or clay. With regard to the Tanyosho Pine (pinus densiflora compacta), I just like the way they look - they have sort of a classic elegance to them, but I also love the contrast in foliage as I think that would compliment my yews and boxwood. I also like the vertical accent...and the simple fact that I'm limited with what will grow well with only morning sun! As an alternative to this, I do think taller boxwood is a good suggestion as accent plants, but since we're replacing dwarf alberta spruce with upright boxwood this year in the backdrop (see pic and explanation below), I'm hesitant to use two of the same accent plants in the background and forefront. As for the hedge, I'm either going to plant the hedge along the wall and wrap around the backside of the Tanyosho, or I'll just have the Tanyosho without the hedge. I really love the hedge idea, but I'm unsure of these two together. I'm torn. I've pasted a pic of my house below. Please excuse the overgrown ferns in my planters, the front door in restoration, and a few other things in progress. The dwarf Alberta Spruce next to the stairs didn't survive this nasty winter (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) - one on each side of the stairs, but one is hidden by the overgrown fern. The spruce will likely be replaced with upright Green Mountain boxwood. The Japanese barberries to the left are being replaced with small, low yews (no higher than the platform). I like the idea of adding contrasting foliage along the retaining wall to perk it up - hubby is dying to play up our new wall. Diggingthedirt - What species of dianthus do you recommend with the silver leaves and long bloom time? I know this is probably too much information, but this is actually the shortened version! :) Thanks again for your feedback. Now, if only spring would arrive! *sigh* Here is a link that might be useful: flower bed planning

Thanks everyone, I will let a save a few columbine seed heads for reseeding and cut the rest. I don't mind other colors really. I actually bought seeds in color mixes as well as a few plants. It sounds as if I would be best srpinkling the rest of the seeds where I would like them in the fall. My seedlings arnt doing to well and I had wondered about that. I also bought the native variety seeds the pretty ones that I see at the state parks, they arn't coming up at all so we'll see what happens with fall planting instead. Thanks for the alyssum advise as well, I bought one white and one purple mix. I love that sweet smell. I'll let them be for now and cut back later if neded. I didn't realize Heliotrope was a tender perennial. Hopefully it will survive the winter if not I also bought a packet of seeds yesterday I can try it from seed each year I guess. Thanks! Laura