Can you post a picture? Not sure I understand the description. Or are these perhaps Sweet Williams?

Thank you so much for answering. The tag from Home Depot did not say "Sweet William" but when I googled it they certainly look like that is what they are. Here's a picture.

Yes, they are Dianthus barbatus aka Sweet William. It would drive you crazy trying to dead head individual flowers. Just lop off the whole stem when it starts to look rattier than you can stand.

ok thank you. we planted about 35 of these. just for fun I think I will do a few like you say and then try to dead head the individual but you are right I would never finish.