Hey Kevin, Welcome! Nice trees you have there.

I have germinated them 2 ways with generally equal success.

1. simply put the seed in some soil wing up, keep moist and warm
2. wrap seeds in a moist paper towel placed in a ziploc baggie. keep warm and transplant when they germinate. Took about a week last time with fresh seeds.

there is another method of using packing peanuts to float the seeds in water. i have not tried it but it seems to work fine.

Mike

To follow up with Mike, after germination follow the "E Method" of seedling rearing:

-Put seedlings out in full sun as soon as possible.
-Fertilize and water as you would the big plants.
-Keep indoors under grow lights their first winter.
-Make sure you keep spider mites and thrips under control with Spinosad or neem oil spray.
-Ruthlessly weed out weaker seedlings.
-Reap the rewards of beautiful blooming seedlings (hopefully) faster than usual.

Well, it's worked for elucas so far, and she's in Central Texas. :) Good luck!