This is beautifully written and picture perfect. If I could give multiple thumbs up, I would. I loved this article and semps are really not my favorites; not because of beauty, but because our weather just simply can't decide if it will be drought laden and bone dry or dripping with humidity or both at the same time. Neither of which makes for happy semps or a happy me.

Even so, your article makes me want to try.

Sharon, your words touched me in the place where there's a desire to make a difference whether that difference is small or big.
I don't think I will be able to exit my computer room with my bigger head now... thanks for reading it!

I meant every word.

I have never grown these plants, but now this makes me want to!

Go ahead and try a really pretty one. There's always room for one more plant and it's not as novelty plant as cactus. And it's perennial. Hope you enjoyed the article and thanks for reading!

Great article. I will be making one of these this summer!

Yay, Clint. Please do. I think you will enjoy the experience. I would love to have you share it. Thanks for taking time to read it.

A wonderful article, from design considerations to practical tips -- thank you! I've recently become fascinated with semps, but I'm finding the same problems Sharon described... leaves die back from too much water or from too much sun/heat. I hadn't really considered a vertical frame (or a topiary form, perhaps?), because I thought they'd be more fuss & bother than I could manage... but they might be a way to ensure excellent drainage and to prevent sun-scald (by positioning away from afternoon sun)...

I have a new little rock garden area in mind (built mostly in my mind so far LOL) for my semps and a few other plants... I can try some plants in raised areas or pockets of soil between a couple of large rocks, some in 'tufa planters (preferably with extra large drainage holes, placed so the long roots of semps can go right down into the garden soil below)... and now I'm thinking I should incorporate some frames, leaning up against a rock or a larger container. They'd be a great way to "show off" some of the semps more visibly.

Thanks again for both inspiration & practical help!

Oh Bev, this was most excellent. I so enjoyed reading it. I loved everything about this article.

Kudos Bev! The article was wonderful and the photos stunning! I have never seen or heard of these before and yours are a real work of art!

Now you and Lynn have hooked me also. These articles are passing by so fast, wonder if I will be able to read them all. Kudos to you Bev .
Regards,
Arif.

Bev great article!! Thank you!!

Arif, Greg and Patty, Thank you all for the kind words. It really makes me happy that you read and enjoyed and that I was able to share all that with you. You know I lived in New Mexico for 13 years and there was nobody to share or talk succulents with. Oh, sure I could have hung around the nurseries but it would not have been the same. Xeriscaping was the big gardening concept there. But really, all that has transpired between us (yes, you Greg, and you Patty and even you Arif) thru posts and pictures and plants (love the alliteration) have made up for those dry succulent years.

And of course Lynn, who you guys should know already as being so supportive and so encouraging and downright irritating sometimes because she makes you think when you don't even think to think. (Got that?) I mentioned florist pins once in a post and she suggests a tutorial...and that's why/how the article was written. It made so much sense for me to do it because it was 13 years of making those frames with nobody to talk to about them. People bought them from me for other people but nobody was really interested in the plants or the logistics of making the frames. Now I have let it all out and feel proud and grateful for being able to share with you all and others on ATP. Much gratitude to you Lynn!
(Gee, long winded like Greg, again...)

Jill, I hope that it will be a clear and fun choice for whichever way or path you go to get those semps into your garden the way you want them.
Thanks for reading the article and getting something out of it!

Great article Bev! You've been holding out on us - I'm surprised you didn't start a thread with pictures of all your beautiful frames. Do you build the actual frames yourself?

Chris, Good morning! Glad you liked the article. Sorry, I have been holding out but was having so much fun with the other stuff. My Dh takes specifications of sizes of frames I want and he looks for redwood to make them.
Have a good day, Keeper of Semps we covet!...

Tell DH good job - they're very nice. You have a good day too!

What a fantastic article! So informative and well written.

Thank you very much Kate. What to write was easy. How to write was a hardship. Head still hurts...

. You are not alone, there are others some where or the other who share and understand your passion(effort). An artist who speaks through his/her works, you are a masterpiece. At long last I planted the Semp seeds today(due to you) which have been sitting on my table and grinning at me for last five months .
Regards ,
Arif.