The semp beds are filling up. Planted and weeded today. The 24' bed is full now. Three more raised beds to claim for the semps.




Opps, I missed photographing one of the beds.

Absolutely beautiful Lynn!!

What's the giant one in pic4?

Gypsy, it's a new one for me this year. I didn't know it was going to get this big.
This is one of two Gypsy I have, it is sitting behind the one in the above photo 4. Notice there is just one offset on that big one, and it is going to bloom.
I think it is an older rosette, the one behind looks to be smaller and younger. It's making offsets finally, hopefully they will not bloom.

It's absolutely beautiful. I did notice that it only had the one offset. It looks like only the offset is blooming, is the mother bolting too? I'd definitely try the beheading on that one. I don't know if you saw Charleen's post in the chat forum, but one of her beheaded bloomers is making offsets.

I'll have to put that on my wishlist. Where did you find it?

I got it this spring from NHN. I am wondering if it's not a very good producer of offsets?

Doesn't look like it. How large was it when you got it? How wide is it now? I'd let Martha know that it has bolted on you, and ask for a replacement. I really prefer to get a smaller rosette to start. I've had good results with them, and I'm less worried that it's going to hen up. (Though this isn't a for sure thing, as I've had some little plants bolt on me too.)

I love how your plants look in the ground. I really need to get on the ball and get some of mine planted.

insiderart said:Absolutely beautiful Lynn!!

What's the giant one in pic4?

Funny you should ask about that semp - that's the same one that caught my eye and I was going to ask the same thing!

Lynn, your beds are soooo pretty. So you have 6 semp beds now and 3 more you can use yet? How wonderful! I can see now I'm going to have to buy a couple of acres of the field behind our house. (yeah, right )

goldfinch4 said:

Funny you should ask about that semp - that's the same one that caught my eye and I was going to ask the same thing!

Great minds think alike!

the old tool box semps are looking good.

the old wheelbarrow are looking good. both have covers over them.


This thing is in my craft room outside and it is shaping up

The ones in angel are looking good. even dead headed, it is making babies. go Sprite....

Wow, Charleen your wall plants are growing. I can't believe how much they have grown since the last photo. Good job. And just look at those little babies on Sprite.

Now that's and idea. I will have to talk to DH. The man that owns the small piece of property on the side and back of ours tried to sell it to us awhile back. Hmmmmmmm. Wonder how many semp beds I could put on an acre of land?
Naaa, get a grip on it Lynn, I can't keep up with 1/2 an acre.

You go Chris. Just think of what you could do with 2 more acres. We'll cheer you on in your new venture. I love the way you have done your beds Chris. I can't do mine that way because of all the rain we get here. Plus our back has standing water in the winter. Raised beds are a must here.

No, two more acres would kill me! I'm getting too old for that.

That Sprite is a prolific little bugger. Keep us posted on how those chicks do.

When do you know when to take them off? when they sprout tiny roots??? I love them, they are so cute. couldn't have done it without the help of my friends......Thanks gang......

So here's a couple of photos of the ongoing semp projects here at the Kirkwood-Tucker garden. The Buddha is coming along fine, his backside is the next to plant area, offsets are growing happily on last years early planting on his head and chest. The Noah's Arc 3 layer project was a whim when I got Twitch's box that arrived at the same time both the Co-op purchase and NorthHillsNursery arrived. Suddenly I had over 100 plants that had to go into soil. So to make room of those that outgrew their pots, I moved those into Noah's Arc along with Twitch's plants, and the Co-op plants. All of North Hills, since they always come in each bag: one or more large mother plants and multiples of babies, each went into their own 6" pot until I figured out where they would land in the garden. All in one weekend, 40 pots got planted and Noah's Arc got half way filled in, and the vent pipe semps are hardy, secure in their soil and ready to go up onto the wall. Here's the photos

Just found this thread and the semp beds are inspirational!!
Very beautiful.
I always loved those European semp roofs. Are any in the US I wonder?

Janice in Oregon there are some. Not long ago on one of our local TV stations they had a program on building and planting a green roof using sedum, semps and some other hardy/drought tolerant plants. If I come across an internet link for it I will post it here. : )

Ok!!!! I'd love to see some more pics of semp beds. I have my semps mixed in with other perennials so it is not as easy to see as some of you other folks. Where is insiderart (Terri) with her awesome designs. I need some inspirational ideas. I'm cutting into hillside to make a semp bed.

Good morning Sandi. I just Tree-mailed Terri. I haven't seen her around for awhile. I sure hope she is okay.

Have you been to the Wild Ginger Farm link? http://wildgingerfarm.com/
Scroll down the page and you will find links for her beds and gardens using alpine plants. Awesome place.

Hi Lynn,
I did check out Wild Ginger Farm.....I love her berms. The area that I will be working on is south facing with very little shade. Right now I only have 'Blue Beard' and a perennial grass growing there. I have some rocks ready to go.


7-31-11 S. Maria Laach making babies


I also tree mailed Terri!

That is a beautiful photo of a beautiful semp Sandi. I really love Maria Laach.

What time of the day does that area get shade? What a wonderful bed that will make. Have you looked at some other hardy alpines to mix in with the semps?