Sempervivum Love

Unfortunately, it’s true that we think we need every sempervivum we’ve ever seen.  It doesn’t matter how many of our friends have it, how many pictures we’ve seen of it, or how common it is.  We don’t think we need it - we know we need it.  We need them ALL. 

Our longing for sempervivums has even driven us to write poems, limericks, and haiku about them.

‘Snow on Sempervivum’ written by imapigeon:

Lilac rosette sparkling under white…
Cocooned and quilted,
Dreaming ‘til the spring

‘Ode to Sempervivum (and Grandpa as Well)’ written by gg5:

My Grandpa used to say:
“When I’m dead and buried far beneath the ground,
Please remember me, plant sempervivum all around.”
Hollyhocks and roses he'd grow and all'd rave,
Yet always he'd ask for sempervivum on his grave

Author’s note
The word “Sempervivum” means 'always living' and even today you can find it on the graves in many European cemeteries as a reminder to keep the memory of the dead.

‘Grandma’s Hens and Chicks’ written by clintbrown:

Grandma needed a place to plant her hens and chicks.
An old, worn-out tractor tire did the trick.
Oh, how many times that tire had spun ‘round and ‘round,
When Grandpa was behind the wheel plowing the ground.
Money was tight and times were tough,
And to use something just once was never enough.
So onto its side the tractor tire was turned,
And from my grandparents another lesson was learned.
Filled to the brim with scooped up earth,
That old tire once again proved its worth

'Lynn's Song' written by CDsSister:

Jovis and semps are the thing
That cause my heart to take wing.
Colors change every season,
Seems without much reason.
They are what cause me to sing

‘Semp’ written by CDsSister:

There once was a plant called Semp.
It was green and purple, not limp.
Addicted I became,
Who is to blame?
A sister-in-law was the imp

The English language doesn’t even have appropriate words to describe our obsession, so we’ve had to make up some of our own.

Sempable or sempability - How well semps will grow in your environment.  Used in a sentence:   "Dude, you have a totally sempable raised bed there!"

Semperholic - A person who is addicted to sempervivums, but desires no cure.

Sempervitis - The disease you get when bitten by the sempervivum bug.  There is no cure.

Habitat for Sempervivity - To create a safe and comfortable home for your semps, even throughout your neighborhood.

Sempventure - A sempervivum adventure, usually includes many ooohs and aaahs and maybe (hopefully) even the purchase of sempervivums.

Semperize - To surreptitiously plant semps around the neighborhood, secretly of course.

Sempster - One who semperizes.

Equal Sempertunity - Allowing any and all semps, regardless of race, creed, color, or unknown parentage (NOIDs).

Semp diversity - The act of discussing, sharing photos of, trading, and loving NOID semps.

Sempty - A garden without any sempervivums planted in it

ANOID-ing – To be disrespectful of NOIDS.

These plants affect us in such a way that one of us has even been known to stay up late at night drinking Kool-Aid and looking at pictures of sempervivums.  Where is it going to end? 

So consider yourself warned.  If you happen to be one of the lucky ones able to get your hands on these beauties, don’t be surprised if your entire personality expands as you fill up with love and desire for sempervivum.  Just remember -- you’re always welcome here, among friends who understand.