Hi ProudGM,
"scared the peewadden out of me" Lol! Well, you found out Impatiens pods turn yellow.
I'm not sure about the pillowcase method. I personally take a bag and hold it with one hand near the pod while I touch the pods with the other. I catch quite a bit that way. You can pop pods that are not quite ready to explode also.
Remy

Don't you just love those pods!! When I was a kid the lady next to us had these in her garden. I never knew the name of them I thought THEY were snapdragons!!LOL!! When I had kids of my own and wanted them to have the same wonderment for outside that I did, I tried to find these plants. Boy what fun that was!
-B

i carefully grab the swollen seed pod with my thumb and index finger and remove it from the plant.i then place it in a clean margerine container and slowly release the pod and the seeds will slowly fall into the container.