Hi Dave,
Some of the items you have listed need a cold period to germinate so winter sowing will work great. Winter sowing is like fall sowing, but in covered containers which raises germination rates drastically. Check out the Winter Sowing Forum if you get a chance. I've found that if I get all my perennials that need a cold period out by the end of Jan., they do well. Doing it sooner won't hurt. I just find after the holidays easiest, and there is still enough time left with cold.
with winter sowing, many of the plants will germinate and grow quicker than if in the ground, but some seeds will still take their time germinating.
Foxglove and poppies will come up very early and need to be transplanted fairy soon after germination. I've found they don't transplant as well if left in the containers like other perennials. Other perennials I wait until I get a decent root system to transplant.
Columbines are weird. Some vareieties germinate early and some don't until it is pretty warm outside, so don't give up on them too quick.
Remy