If you like having butterflies visit your yard, few things are more attractive to them than Lantana. If your Mom wouldn't mind, take some cuttings from her plants and literally just stick them in the ground. Water every few days if it doesn't rain. I just added pics including a Lantana cutting from last year that's growing back nicely this spring, in this discussion. Butterfly bushes (Buddleia) are just as easy to multiply, but somebody has to have one to get started. Easy to find in stores, inexpensive, or through trading. Of course BF's like butterfly bushes, HA! Basil flowers are beloved by BF's and bees. If you have a little patch of ground to scatter some basil seeds, they should have plenty of time to make flowers this year. Then, of course, the leaves are yummy. The flowers are white, so don't clash with anything, not that exciting visually, but I've seen hummingbirds visiting them also. That gets it a prized spot in my opinion. That's really cool your sprouts survived some frosts! Has anyone else noticed, the seed sprouts are all plain green, top and bottom. The plants coming back from previous years' tubers have red on the back of their leaves. I was very intrigued by the first one I saw in the back yard because I didn't recognize it at first, but could tell it was growth, not a sprout, and there were no weeds there to be growing back. Never know what could creep over from the abandoned yard next door though.

4:00s are prolific re-seeders. I sow them outside - whenever. Just like you might do with cosmos, nigella, larpspur etc. They aren't going to germinate until it gets plenty warm, and it won't hurt them to be outside. Same thing with witner sowing - outdoors right now in containers. The difference is with Winter Sowing you have more control over the seedlings and the containers provide a safer environment than flung on the ground. I don't see any need to actually plant them under the soil unless you want to. Remember, they re-seed on their own just find wherever the plant spews them. Determine your own comfort level or try a few techniques. If you just have a few seeds, I would sugget winter or spring sow using the winter sowing method. If you have a bunch - just whip them out there.

I think the alyssum will flower. The four oclocks will, this is around the time I plant mine. Soak your 4 oclock seeds overnight and that will speed things up. It can take forever if you dont. I dont know about thyme. I have never planted it. good luck carey

I've never, ever had any trouble getting my 4'oclocks to germinate. i just poke them down in the dirt -- probably no deeper than 1" and more likly about 1/4-1/2". I've never soaked them. If you want them to 'pop' a little sooner, make sure your containers are good and moist, make sure you have plenty of vent holes, set them in the sun and wait for the popcorn! As they germinate, move them out of direct sun to more sheltered sun until you can get the lids off. good luck!