Hi Kensclark,
I think no one wrote back to you because it is a lot in one post. Different types of flower produce seeds in different manners.
For Salvia, the flower drops off, and the calyx turns brown. Once the calyx is brown, the seeds held in the calyx should be ripe.
For Echinacea, the petals fall off and the cone part of the flower dries up. Once it is dry, the seeds are ready and they are held within the spiky parts of the cone. (There are a few post with pics on this forum if you do a search.)
For Mints and Basils, the flowers die and the flower cluster turns brown. The ripe seeds will readily fall out of the brown when rubbed.
Rosemary does not produce many viable seeds, and is best propagated by cuttings.
Feverfew the white petals fall off and the middle button browns.
I've not save from the others so I can't say for sure. To see pics of some of the above and get more info, I recommend The Seed Site. It is an excellent resource.
Remy

Here is a link that might be useful: The Seed Site