Ginny,
Making controlled crosses takes just a tiny bit of extra time and thought. Get organza bags (cheapest online) and bag the flowers the day before they bloom so the bees can't beat you to it. Keep plastic flagging tape, a permanent marker and a box of q-tips with your bags somewhere easy to grab on your way to the garden. Make sure your bags are large enough to allow the blooms to open (not so hard with the mini's). You can leave the bags on until seed harvest, and it keeps bugs from attacking your pods, and prevents seed loss when the pods crack. The flagging tape can be inside the bag. If the pod doesn't take, just untie the bag and use it elsewhere. Pick bag and tape colors that coordinate with your garden. It's sooo easy.
