Hi Cynthia and so sorry about your son. The answer to your question is yes, seeds can germinate that are hundreds of years old if kept in the right conditions. The only thing to do is give it a try. Rake the ground smooth and sprinkle the seeds in late spring but don\'t cover them too deep. Just barely cover with fine sand or soil. I would also sprinkle seeds indoors in potting soil in a container. Then save some seeds to sprout outdoors in the summer such as June when the soil has warmed. By trying three different ways to germinate or sprout the seeds you have the best chance of getting some to sprout. It is possible that cold, wet, dry or age has made the seeds non-viable. But it doesn\'t hurt to try. Good Luck and Keep growing, Marianne Binetti