How gorgeous Bev I am hoping the weather clears one day soon so my poor semps can get a chance to see the sun! We have had a foot of rain this week. Very unusual, but at least no spiders and snakes for the time being!

What kind of mulch is that you are using? Beautiful contrast.

Patti, for the small collection of velvety semps planted in large pot placed close to eaves of the house, I mulched with small orchid bark to help the soil from drying out too fast but the plants are in a soil with good drainage. In the larger semp bed, the dressing consist of pebble sized aquarium rocks and when it get hot and sunny, I cover the bed with a frost cloth to keep out the hot rays of the sun. I don't cover the bed during the winter anymore, per Lynn.

They look great Bev!

We're hoping for snow tonight, it's not expected to last long with rain tomorrow afternoon but little gnomewas excited to see the weather man post this earlier. We rarely get much snow.

Glad that little gnome not "under the weather" anymore...but more on top of the weather?
Thanks and Have a good one Kate!

Little gnome gets snow.
Can we have a photo of her playing in the snow?

We had fog all day today! I hate fog, cold and damp!

Kate any snow yet!

Sunshine all day yesterday, and looks like the same for today.

Our sunshine is back too. I think.

I was just reading up on info found about Colorado growing challenges on the CSU extension page.
It says
"The real killers, however, are the infrequent but rapid changes from warm, balmy weather to cold, subzero temperatures. In 1949, a 90 degree F change was recorded near Fort Collins in less than 24 hours. The change from 50 degrees F to -40 degrees F resulted in the ear-popping fracture of entire trees and virtually wiped out the local sour cherry industry. On October 19, 1969, Denver experienced a temperature drop to -3 degrees F, that was preceded by balmy 85 degree weather. Similar rapid temperature changes occurred on September 17, 1971, and October 28, 1991."

We have gone from single digits last week to a high of maybe 60 by Saturday. So now I know why some plants survive and others do not. It also mentions the drying winds and how cold weather can get trapped by shrubs and other things. Best to just let the wind flow over.

Wow Marilyn, that is some serious weather changes.

Yes it is but the sunny days make the dark gloomy ones tolerable. And the sun fools you into thinking it is warmer too

Would be hard to grow anything! The sun is out today!!!

Oooh Marilyn, that info on the extreme weather changes in Colorado sound so scary! Enough to drive one to needlepoint year round inside one's living room? That's a plan.

No needlepoint for me. I do read and play on the computer/genealogy and garden web sites to keep me busy in the winter months, until I can get out to see what survived this year. Spring is only 3-4 months away now.

And there is always housework when all else fails to keep me occupied.

Yeah that's what I resort to...housework...when all else has been played with...
Keep warm, CDs Sister!

Since I seem to complain a lot about the cold weather, today I decided to tell you about our preview of spring which is happening today and tomorrow at least. 55 and 62 But then another cold snap coming. A bit of spring is welcome, even if it does create a longing for the real stuff.

Enjoy Marilyn!...and I like when you "complain"...it's another opportunity to hear from you!

with Bev. Love hearing it all.

Cloudy and cool here today.

Well, I went to the garden center (they were advertising a Pot [planting] sale. And I have been longing to have a pot like Bev put together a year or so ago. She posted this on multi plant photo




I took the photo over and ordered one like it for myself -- only smaller. Hope it looks half as nice.

How amazing is that, Marilyn! Crazy, crazy, crazy that you did that and they are going to do it for you? You lucky girl! Aside from the last 3 sentences (phrases), I'm speechless!...and now I'll say, "Don't give them your life savings!" Please post pic later.

They are very reasonable and maybe only slightly more than the cost of pot/plants/dirt etc and they will keep it for me until Mother's Day so it should be safe to bring home. I did attempt it myself but did not do so well, so thought I would let them do it this time.

I also bought a couple of small tender succulents. One is a nice one I will post a pic of it later.