Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Sempervivum (Chicks and Hens)


Since so many of you commented yesterday about the Semps, I decided to give you another dose!!!!! Sempervivum come in all kinds of varieties ---but this is one plant we don't know the names (since there are so many). You can go online and check out some of the places which sell Semps--and see tons and tons of different ones of all sizes. shapes and colors. Here are some of ours. Hope you enjoy!!!!

















Remember in yesterday's post that I mentioned the fact that the Mama 'Hen' will bloom (about every two -three years). Once she blooms, she will died and her 'chicks' will take over ... Once the chicks grow enough to have babies, they will become the Mamas --and the cycle continues. Above, you can see where one Mama Hen bloomed and then died. (George just reminded me that some of our Semps have NEVER bloomed----so who knows which ones do, and how often????!!!!)








This purple one is SO pretty in the yard.





See the Semps expanding ----and spreading out over the rocks? Those are 'babies' on the ends.





Semps love being around rocks!!!








When the Mama Semps begin to bloom, they sometimes grow their 'blooms' straight up in the air. Amazing, aren't they????




Several here bloomed at the same time. The babies (which were left) looked sad for awhile --until they 'took over' and started growing themselves and expanding.




I'll end with this one ---which has pretty, small blossoms. This one is similar to the one I showed you yesterday. Hope I've talked you into putting some Semps in your yard now. They are great ---and we put them in many of the 'blank' areas around the flowerbeds to add color and beauty.

Hugs,

P.S. George's elderly parents are having some major plumbing problems. We had to go to Hendersonville to help them all day yesterday--and are going back today to meet a plumber there. I apologize for missing so many of YOUR blogs. I promise to catch up SOON. Thanks for your patience.