Weeded the thyme and around the perimeter of the patio. Julia gifted me a flat of sempervivum seedlings which I plugged in here and there. They do real well at the edge of the patio, pretty much pure gravel. And it softens the edge. I may let some grow in the cracks, although I don't know how much foot traffic they can take. The cracks get filled with moss during the fall/winter, but that then shrivels up when the sun starts being on it. I caved and have started spray painting the adirondack chairs. I really liked them just stained, but they just didn't weather well. Spraying them is much easier, I should be able to just give them a spring tuneup once I get them coated. I went with 'claret wine' which is about the same color as the house doors.
Interestingly, I planted a St. John's wort in the relaxation station of the herb garden, assuming it would spread out. It was a bit fancier than the regular one, and so far has kept to itself. On the other hand, the vervain has absolutely taken over the chicken yard, and they don't mess with it for some reason. I'm torn over letting it just continue to colonize (the birds end up making paths through it) or trying to dig it out. It so far has not been a problem in the herb garden, likely because it pull it out when it pops up where I don't want it. Other plants they seem to leave alone are blue fescue (surprised me), feverfew, nettles and of course thistles and burdock. I planted sweet cicily, daylily, and comfrey just outside the fence, the chickens peck at those but so far haven't killed them.
On a side note, my camera bit the dust (again, I have no luck with electronics). So no photos. I should figure out how to use Gary's cell phone, but then I'd also have to figure out how to get them from his camera to the computer. So, probably not happening. I'll just buy another inexpensive point-n-hope.
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