Not necessarily since some perennials will bloom first year from seed. I had lots of first year blooms and you're in a warmer zone and could see plenty as well. Here's what bloomed for me first year from WS seed:

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Dighappy, thank you for asking - was wondering the same thing myself. Gardenweed thank you for the pictorial. Newbie winter sowing anticipation equals that of a gestational period - except we will not have to support and educate these babies!

I am so pleased with the help and support that members are willing to share. Thanks a million.

Dorothy (Meadows)

Gorgeous! Gardenweed, is the white called guara? Is the blue & purple with it a type of salvia? What kind? Numbers 1 & 7. Great pictures. Thanks!

meadows - it was the photos folks posted here on the Winter Sowing forum last year that inspired me--glad you enjoyed them.

river - thanks! Glad you liked the pictures. The white flowers are Gaura lindheimeri/wandflower 'The Bride.' The blue/purple is Russian sage. I made the happy mistake of planting them side by side and as it turns out, it's a stunning combination!! I hope the gaura comes through our awful winter but even if it doesn't, I harvested LOTS of seeds and will grow it as an annual. It bloomed non-stop despite the extended drought and all the way through November.

gardenweed, before you save the seed, do you isolate the flowers or do anything to make sure they don't cross pollinate with others of the same species?

gardenunusual - my seed harvesting technique hasn't evolved to quite that level of sophistication. I currently don't have others growing near enough to worry about them cross pollinating. Last year was my first to winter sow and as a result my beds are not stuffed to overflowing...yet. My goal is to plant perennials in drifts of three or more plants for the wow factor when they bloom. I'm not there yet. For now I just go walkabout every afternoon prepared to harvest whatever seeds are ripe and ready.

That's what I hope to do. There are some I have of different colors (like a red, white and purple salvia) that I thought might cross.

I have also gotten bloom first year from gallardia, delphinium, and buddleia. Others as well that I don't remember right now. Some suggest that certain perennials not be allowed to bloom the first year to make stronger plants, one being H. blue poppies.

gardenweed, I am sorry if you have answered this before, but my memory fades, what is the last photo? Is it a hibiscus blooming between iris leaves? Variety?

And #4 from top, double hollyhock?

Thanks.

mnwsgal - the last photo is a lucky shot of Malva/Mallow 'Vulcan' that bloomed between some iris foliage. The seeds were from a commercial seed pack. Though small, the flowers were stunning and vivid but the foliage wasn't too impressive and I didn't care for its overall floppy habit.

The pink flower in #4 is a dwarf double pink hollyhock I grew via WS. It was my first time winter sowing and my first time to grow hollyhock. I got the seeds in trade and am really thrilled with the blooms. It bloomed three times--once in mid-July, again in August and once more early September according to my notes. I'm adding lots more hollyhocks to my WS this year.