You'll have to make sure the large seeds are planted deeply enough (a half inch) and the nicotiana seeds which are like powder, need to be on top of the soil. Nasturtiums wander really quickly and may shade out the baby nicotiana leaves which grow low. You have to water it everyday, sometimes twice a day, so the emerging seedlings don't die (from just one day of drought.)

Plantings like this are nice in theory, but the weeds/grass soon overtake the area and you have to start all over again each year with soil prep. That's my experience. I did a wildflower garden that way and it was just too much work, even though it was very pretty the first year.

Thanks for the info. I've already ordered the seeds, which are: nicotiana affinis (36"), Marvel of Peru four o'clocks (24"), Rose Queen cleome (C. hasslerana (spinosa), 36"). I'd already decided to use cleome instead of nasturtium, because it seems easier and more shade-tolerant, and I like it. The mature heights are similar, but the faster-growing plants shading the slower ones is certainly a potential problem. I guess I could plant them in separate areas, but I'd rather not end up with bare ground if one type of seed completely fails. Have to think about this.

I've got a York Rake for my tractor, so ground prep isn't so much of an issue. And I can use it to lightly rake the ground after spreading the four o'clock and cleome seeds, to cover them with soil. Two or three oscillating sprinklers on timers (set so they don't all run at once) should take care of the water.

Well, I'm looking forward to the experience. Better to work for a field of flowers than work for a lawn (I have some of that too).

just a question regarding the use of sand. i think i saw this mentioned somewhere else --- but i don't understand what is the benefit of mixing seeds with sand when you plant them? is this something that should be done with some seeds, and not others?

thanks!
--robbie--

Flower seeds can be very small, too small for a spreader. It's impractical to broadcast them over a wide area unless you mix them with some medium.

Here's an update: It's almost four weeks since I sowed the seeds over 3000+ sq ft. I have what I believe to be desirable seedlings (4 o'clock, cleome, nicotiana) over much of the area. They're still smaller than I expect, presumably because it's been unseasonably cool, and often cloudy, in those four weeks. Still watering a few times a day to keep the surface moist, because I think new seedlings are still emerging. This weather is really frustrating. Germination has been weak in areas that get little or no sunlight, because the ground hasn't been warmed. But I guess those shadier areas wouldn't produce much in the way of flowers anyway. Some time soon I'd like to cut back the watering, to less frequent and deeper doses.

The first lesson I've learned is, I need a leaf blower. Magnolia and holly leaves are covering some of the ground now. Worse are the maple keys...I've been pulling out lots of maple seedlings, but it's getting to the point where I don't want to walk on the ground and trample the good plants anymore. The remaining maple seedlings certainly aren't desirable, but I don't think they'll ruin the whole project. There are definitely other weeds too, but once the annuals get going they ought to tower above them.

The project area starts near the street, and I can only guess what the neighbors are thinking. Hopefully I'll end up with enough flowers, for a long enough time, to justify the work (really not that much, as gardening work goes) and water (a lot).