Those new beds look great, Lynn and Patty. So it isn't a problem to transplant in the winter?

I don't do any transplanting in the winter because of the heavy rains we have at that time of the year. The chances of losing plants to rot would be great. Unless it was to put them into pots and place them under protection. That might be why Patty has the hoops in place, to put plastic to keep the rain off.

That bed is finished - but there are 5 more of those stone beds (you can see them in the pic) that right now just have random plants in them that I plan to re-do. Still have enough semps for another bed!

I don't like to move the semps in winter, but they are all in pots and it's hard to keep them watered just right. I think they'll do better in the ground under plastic - we are near the mountains and get a ton of rain here

That area where Patty has her stone beds is sempervivum heaven. It is so cool!!!

Patty said:Finally finished the semp bed that Julia helped me start in September Only 5 more to go It would be easier if I could find good dirt up here instead of importing it from Oregon!

Those beds look excellent. I'm getting rock envy! And they're even mortared together. How's the sun exposure in that area?
I was in Puget Sound over Christmas and I noticed everyone used rocks in their landscaping. And there were huge piles of rocks around construction excavation sites. I figured they must be abundant in the local soils. I'll trade rocks for Canby sandy loam.

Lynn, I grew up on the outskirts of Tacoma, a couple of blocks from Pacific Lutheran University (I remember when it was Pacific Lutheran College; guess that dates me!).

The soil there is glacial till and lots of it!

Fantastic design there Patty ,it looks fabulous already . It will surely be fantastic when al the planting is complete .
Are you going to pave the pathways or leave natural ?

We are just a couple blocks from the Tolt River, and this entire area used to be underwater before the dam went in. The ground has tons of rock and folks try to find ways to use them. The prev owners built these beds, a rock water faucet, rock wall, and left a huge rock pile in back You'd think the soil would be great, but it is Horrid - a sandy clay that is rock hard when it dries. I haven't found a bulk source for the soil I like for the semps, so I bring back a load when I go to Oregon. Such a drag!

Paddy - planning to leave the paths natural - they have landscape fabric under them so pretty easy to care for. Lucky you over there with all those German semps!

Here is a picture of my semp beds today. Snow is about 4 ft. deep on them.


Here is one of my perennial beds, with snow almost 5 ft. deep.


And that, folks, is why I'm enjoying all your pictures so much!

Patty,

Every time I have visitors from WA they say "I wish I had your soil". The plants seem to know it too; they look more lush on our side of the border. Tim has the best soil in Canby but none of us are in too bad shape. It really grows bulbous and rhizomatous plants well. Semps want something a bit lighter so you have to cut it and/ or provide more drainage althugh my first plantings were in unadulterated OR soil and things grew fine.

However, I do envy your view there and you have a wonderful piece of property to landscape as well. Have you got in touch with the local iris people? They are having a great garden tour this spring.

Kevin

It IS lovely here, lots to see and do. And luckily I just get to tinker with the existing landscape, nice at this stage in life. Prev owners must have had a ton of topsoil hauled in for the beds, but everywhere else it's dreadful! No one around here even has decent lawn - which makes the case for getting rid of it all the better I brought some of my favorite Iris with me but they seem to be rotting from all the rain Maybe I'll check out the garden show - but evening meetings in Seattle - I sure miss OTIS!

Chris, I could not live with all that snow!!!!!

Knowing you Patty, it won't be long before you have the soil problem taken care of. You are such a determined gardener.

Chris I don't even know what to say about all that snow you have. Well maybe I do, so glad we don't have it.
We used to live with winters like that, and it never bothered me. Not the case now, I don't ever want to go back to winter weather like that.

Something to brighten your day Chris. Orange Glow is starting to glow.

Oh my! Orange Glow is fab!

Thank you Patty.
It's like a neon light out in the bed right now.

Wow Lynn amazing!
Chris I love looking at the score from a distance!!

Patty,

You may want to try beardless irises up there. Siberians, spurias and Japanese don't have the rotting problems. Someone you may know has even written a book on the subject........

Kevin

For Chris, under all that snow, this is for you. Not semps

Beautiful Julia. Is that Iris reticulata 'Pixie'?
I actual have two daffodil blooms open. The are up against the house foundation, west side.

Not sure on the name. Just love that blue.