Our Sempervivum (Hens and Chicks)--and a Surprise!

Most of you (if you have been following my blog for awhile) know that George and I love succulents. Our Autumn Joy Sedum is one of our favorite succulents. BUT--even better than that is our Sempervivum. We have LOTS of Semps in our yard.

The name "Sempervivum" has its origin in the Latin semper ('always') and vivus ('living'). Sempervivum are called "Always Living" because this perennial plant keeps its leaves in winter and is very resistant to difficult conditions of growth.

These little succulents are also called Hens and Chicks. The main plant (hen) creates lots of babies (chicks). Typically, each plant (hen) grows for several years before flowering. After flowering, the plant dies, usually leaving many offsets (chicks) it has produced during its life. I think I read that there are over 40 different species of Semps.

I have done blog posts several times showing our Semps (go to my sidebar and click on SEMPS)---but since there are new people, I decided to show some again to you today. I hope you will enjoy my pictures! These are new pictures which I took recently.   Be sure to click on them for enlargements.   The picture above doesn't show it,  but this group are in a 'pile'----like a big mound, living off of each other.. I have never seen them do this.

This one is different... I love its colors.

Here is one of my favorites... I love the purple edges!!!!

I love the colors in this one also.  See how wonderful these little guys are?  They'll grow most anywhere in your yard... We put them around the edges of our flowerbeds...

This one is gorgeous also --with all of the neat colors.

Here is a colorful group of Semps.  I was able to get some sun and shadows on this one.

There are alot of 'babies' in this group---as there are in most groups.  I love to see the Mamas when they bloom (none are blooming now)---but hate to see them die.  BUT-- that's just life for Supervivum.

Here  is one last picture of some gorgeous Semps.   If you want to see some of them in bloom, click HERE.  I have done several posts showing these beauties...  Hope you don't get tired of seeing them.  They are all a little different from one year to the next...

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Five Bluebird Babies

Here is a surprise for you.  It's not a 'hen and chick' --but it is a picture of five tiny baby Bluebirds just born this week.  I've been watching the 5 eggs in the nest in our backyard for awhile --and am happy to see those precious babies come into the world.  We have a new baffle on the pole --so hopefully,  this group will make it.  I'll keep you posted.  They should grow up and fledge by about the 18th of June (give or take).  Aren't they precious?  

Have a wonderful Monday.

Hugs,

Betsy

Tour of our Yard

Come and relax on our deck!

WOW---here it is June 1st!!!  How can that be?????  Now that Summer is here (unofficially),  I will say that,  even though it passed by quickly,  we did have a gorgeous spring this year.  I have shared many of our beautiful flowers with you (crocus, hyacinths, daffodils, tulips, irises--- plus more including our ROSES).   The pansies are still blooming but will be gone if it stays HOT for much longer.  The roses will be with us until late Fall.

But now our biggest bloomers are our lilies and daylilies.  Most of the roses have finished blooming their first batch ---and will start a 2nd batch soon.   George and I have both been very busy lately working in the yard.  We enjoy it ---although working in extreme heat is not much fun!  We finally have everything looking pretty good ---after weeding and weeding... Of course though,  those pesky weeds do have a habit of reappearing!  SO--weeding is an ongoing process.

Today,  in order to do something a little different,  I invite you on a short tour of our yard.  All of my photos today were taken either on May 27th or May 28th.  Be sure to click on them to enlarge them.

First though,  you need to sit on our deck and relax a minute.  I'll furnish some cold lemonade!!!!! Let's just TALK....

Freedom's Glow Lilies

OKAY---time for the tour!!!!! Wasn't that lemonade good?????  Our first stop is on the 'upper' side of the house where many lilies are planted... Some of them are blooming (picture above) ---but there are many more to bloom.   It's nice to sit on the deck and smell and enjoy all of the lilies!!!

The Upper side of our home

Next we will walk along the rock sidewalk noticing other lilies --either blooming or about to bloom.   When I talk about seeing this beauty from the kitchen window,  this is where that flowerbed is.   I weeded this big bed (going all along the length of our home) last weekend...  The Chipmunks love to tunnel in this bed --and eat the flower bulbs.... Darn those cute little critters!!!

Our ground covers (Periwinkle and English Ivy) and several gorgeous Hostas

Now we are in the front yard ---on the upper side. We have quite a bit of ground cover in certain places around the yard.   It has taken this ground cover several years to get thick enough to 'eat' the weeds!!!!  We love it---and it helps with the mowing!!!

Our Home --taken from the street

Here is a picture  taken from the road ---looking 'through' our road flowerbed toward the house.  Sometime,  I'll share some before and after photos of how this flowerbed has evolved... Those red lilies are our Montenegro Lilies.  They have been gorgeous this spring.  Behind the lilies are some Veteran's Honor Roses (also red in color).

Our front yard ---looking toward the road

I took this photo from the other direction.  I was standing near the garage --looking out toward the road.  You can get a better view of the road flowerbed.  Many of you remember when George built that bed.   We did it for the same reason we have so many container roses----to have a sunny spot in our mostly shady yard!!!!  Roses need SUN!!!!

Small flowerbed along the rock sidewalk

Now we are walking back around the sidewalk toward the back deck.  This little bed along the house side of the rock sidewalk has been a 'work in progress' since we bought the house in 2002.   For several years,   I planted Impatiens along here every spring....  Then,  one year,  the rabbit (or more than one) kept eating the Impatiens.... I tried again the next year,  and the rabbits came back and did it again... SO--I had to come up with Plan B!!!!!   Dad Adams gave us more of his Autumn Joy Sedum (we have it in other places around the yard),  so I separated it and planted it along this area.  It has done well---and causes me no trouble at all.   Last year,  I added more Hosta between some of the Sedum....

Autumn Joy Sedum and Hosta

Here's another picture  (closer)  of some of the Autumn Joy Sedum and Hosta in that little flowerbed.  Both are doing well---and take very little --if any---care or upkeep!!!!  I recommend Autumn Joy Sedum if you want some plants that are easy to grow and maintain.

More of our back deck

Finally,  we are back to where we started!!!!!  Hope you enjoyed the little tour.  We didn't go to the 'lower' side of the yard since there's nothing much there now except for our big woodpile and compost... Can't say that that is worth showing off!!!!! ha

WELL---now that we are back to the deck,  George and I invite you to 'break bread' with us!!!!!  Do you prefer burgers or steaks or chicken?????  George can cook a mean steak on the grill...  I KNOW ---since he made me one on Memorial Day evening... YUM!!!!

NOW---take me on a tour of your home.  I learn so much from all of you bloggers!!!!!  Thanks for visiting today -and you sincerely are invited to visit us if you are ever in Beautiful Tennessee...

Have a great weekend and I'll see you on Monday.

Hugs,
Betsy