Token, I checked my purchased seeds, they look exactly the same as yours. Mine are a darker brown, maybe your camera makes them look a little more red than mine. I see yours also have a fold on one side, same as mine. They should be fine.

Mary

Thanks Mary. My camera does tend to make things more orange especially when brown is the main color. In reality, they are a dark walnut brown. Thanks for letting me know. I still think I'll try a paper towel test before sowing/trading them.

I received some of these seeds in a trade last winter, but they didn't sprout. We had such a cold and short growing season in 2009, they probably wouldn't have been happy anyway.

I perform germination tests regularly on garden-collected seed and old seed packets when curious if they are actually going to sprout. And they usually do! It is worthwhile, because then I know I've got viable seed for WSing or trades/SASBEs. It looks like you've got plenty of seed, so why not.

I wintersowed hairy balls with no problem, so I don't think they mind having their * frozen :)

I ordered seeds and am now a bit worried because my purchased seeds do not look as nice as yours...

SOMEDAY, I'll too have Hairy Balls!!

GGG, I wintersowed a few seeds last December. I got one plant. They struggled to reach the sun under all the cosmos that I direct sowed in that bed. After I pulled the cosmos, they took off. But it was really late in the summer before they bloomed and the seed pods took forever to get any size to them. I'm assuming they are perennials in our zones?

Austinnhannasmom, I can't remember what the seeds looked like that I wintersowed. I swear I don't remember this type of seed. I thought they were larger.

I wish I had collected them prior to the swap. Several people were asking for them on their wishlists.

I never got mine planted out so I stuck them in my un-heated greenhouse. We've been thur several below freezing temps and while they have lost most of their leaves,they're still alive and green so hopefully I can get them planted asap this coming spring.

Peggy

Don't fret, my seeds aren't as pretty as token's either, his camera makes them look a different color than they actually are, as he said.

Now I'm hoping that I get good germination because I only have a few seeds because I shared them with my daughter and a friend of hers.

Mary

Token, they are later growing, period. Try planting them with some early stuff such as batchelor buttons, california poppies, nigellas - when those are done your hairy balls should zoom.
I think they are slightly temperamental both germination and also for hardiness. Probably best to keep them in a sheltered area in the garden. As for germination, an overnight soak in tempid water might just be the trick!