Heya! this is a spin-off from ValleyLynn's sale posted here in this forum, The thread "Sempervivum For Sale" in Classifieds and Group Buys forum

I figure as long as I'm ordering, I may as well see who wants to order with me. I can bring plants to the fall swap (September 10), and we can save on shipping, especially if you want just a couple of plants.

The list of available cultivars is here http://garden.org/lists/view/v...

A large flat rate box should hold 30-40 sets of starts. Lynn sends a couple of "chicks" (smaller offshoots) of each variety ordered, $3 plus shipping (figure 50 cents to $1 each for shipping). Mature rosettes not only would be more costly to send, they also tend to bloom & die, sometimes before producing a good round of "chicks."

People on the other thread have posted some very lovely pictures of what they've received. She is an excellent enabler, making extras from her collection available at a bargain price.

I'll warn you right now, her enthusiasm is contagious, and her semp photos are gorgeous... don't blame me if you start by thinking "1 maybe 2" and end up ordering 6!

Post on this thread to discuss what plants you're interested in... Put your list in your first post on this thread and edit the post to make changes or additions. When you've finalized your order, please edit your post one last time and put "FINAL ORDER" and then your list. You can pay me at the swap (or possibly before Lynn ships, depending on how many you want and whether or not you've participated in one of my group buys before). I will pay Lynn.

Like any group buy, you are participating at your own risk. Lynn has a stellar reputation, but if she's abducted by aliens after cashing my check, you'll still owe me for your share.

Let the fun begin!

Final Orders:

Chantell
' Drachenblut'
'Jeramia'
'Smit's Seedling'
'Virgil'
'Zepherin'


Robinbunch5
+ Broncos
+Dornroschen
+Jeramia
+Lentezon
+Mauna Kea
+Positively Glowing
+Sopa
+T 'Pol
Any NOID s too
If any are not available please do not substitute.
FINAL

Frenchy21

Jill
* Boromir blue-green, red tips, wm, cilia
*Cuckoo green wm
* Dolo - red, apple-green
* Dornroschen - red wm
* Fame - pink-purple and sea-green
* Jeramia - plum
*Lady Kelly - purplish-grey
* Mauna Kai - grey-green, backed/tipped purple, wm
*Rococo
* Virgil - grape purple on grey-green

* S. heufflelii 'Blaze'

plus 2 more of your choosing, for a "baker's dozen" -- surprise me!

noids gratefully accepted... any that we can't use, we'll share around at the swap!

If any aren't available, a substitution is fine.

Lynn is advising me on my selection... I'm interested in getting some large, colorful, robust cultivars.

She'll keep an eye on this thread, but if you have particular questions for her, please get her attention by putting "@ ValleyLynn" (without the space) in your post. We'll learn from each other if we post here rather than tree-mailing questions to her, but either way works.

What I'm looking at so far:


* Rococo -- burgundy (summer), green
*Persephone - red, green, pink?
* Dolo - red, apple-green
* Dornroschen - red wm
Cuckoo green and burgundy-red tips wm
or
Boromir blue-green, red tips, wm, cilia

* Fame - pink-purple and sea-green
* Jeramia - plum
* Lady Kelly - purplish-grey
* Mauna Kai - grey-green, backed/tipped purple, wm
* Virgil - grape purple on grey-green

* S. heufflelii 'Blaze'
Rollers: two contrasting ones that would look good together as a groundcover, maybe with 'Blaze' also

'Drachenblut'
'Jeramia'
'Virgil'
'Honigmond'
'Olympicum'

Jill, thank you so much for doing this! I'm happy with any or all of these. If one or more is not avail - no need to substitute...

Ok...really the final one. Thank you - thank you!!!

If we all pick different ones... with any luck, we'll be able to swap among ourselves in a year or two!

'Dolo' seems to get good marks for color, large size, and for being "robust." I really want to try one of those deep red ones from Germany -- Drachenblut and the other "D" one that I can never remember LOL.

And the watermarking pattern on some of the semps just makes me go oooooooohhhh! I've been reading some of the links from the database to the semp forum... looks like watermarking is a variable occurrence (water, temp, who knows) but is more likely with certain varieties. One of the things I love about semps is that their color seems to always be changing!

"Robust" is really important to me, because I confess that my semps have in the past become overrun with weeds every so often, plus we often have wet springs and humid summers, so fussy semps won't do well. I'm hoping it'll be easier to keep up with weeds in my new rock garden area. There's a garden bench right behind it, so they won't be "outta sight outta mind" either. Some of the sedums in that bed are getting to be big clumps, so large semp varieties would do well I think. I can widen the edges later and make little "pockets" or use containers for smaller semps.

'Boromir' went on my list just because I'm a huge Tolkein fan (Lord of the Rings).

I'll list others but am totally putting myself in Lynn's hands for making substitutions based on both availability and her recommendations.

Lynn also suggested to me that S. heuffelii would do well for us, as they seem especially tolerant of rainy seasons.

Of the ones I'd asked about she said 'I have had all of those except 'Drachenblut' " LOVE that 'watermarking' as well. I don't see the heuffelii you spoke of...unless I'm overlooking it??

If you look toward teh end of her plant list, you'll see soem of the other species... she said she'd try to fit in a couple of noid hueffelii for us to try, but she has a couple of named ones as well. I loved the color on the aptly named 'Blaze'!

FINAL ORDER

Bronco
Mauna Kea
Pacific Jordan
Rocknoll Rosette
Rollers globiferum subsp. preissianum
'T' Pol"

FINAL

+ Broncos
+Dornroschen
+Jeramia
+Lentezon
+Mauna Kea
+Positively Glowing
+Sopa
+T 'Pol
Any NOID s too
If any are not available please do not substitute.

FINAL

I really would like to find a wagon wheel to put them in.

Chantell said:Of the ones I'd asked about she said 'I have had all of those except 'Drachenblut' " LOVE that 'watermarking' as well. I don't see the heuffelii you spoke of...unless I'm overlooking it??

Hi, Chantell! I have h. 'Blaze' and recently purchased 'Drachenblut' from Lynn.
First, 'Blaze' is an amazing heuf. It's beautiful all year! It's a nice sturdy plant that thrives even during our rainy season. And, if you think 'Drachenblut' is lovely in the photo, wait till you see it in person. I'm so glad I chose that one!
Hope everyone's having a great day!

You guys are the most organized group of traders I've ever seen, you really know how to get the most bang for your buck. Community is what we are lacking in America and it's great to see the Mid-Atlantic garden community pulling together to achieve more for it's members. critterologist hats off to you for being such a great host for these trades you sure know how to find the deals.

ediblelandscapingsc said: it's great to see the Mid-Atlantic garden community pulling together to achieve more for it's members. critterologist hats off to you for being such a great host for these trades you sure know how to find the deals.

You are SO right - Jill is the bestest...always!!!!

@TerriStanley - thank you so much for sharing your experience with these!!!

Glad to see Frenchy & Robin have joined the party!

Robin, I don't remember who it was, but somebody posted some pictures in the database that looked like a wagon-wheel type arrangement made with slate pavers, stood on edge to create divisions between semp groups. You could maybe use some of those curved building stones (like people use for fire pits) to make a ring-shaped raised bed, then use rows of upright pavers for "spokes" and put something fun in the center for the "hub." (birdbath, obelisk, strawberry pot with little semps...)

If Lynn runs short on any that more than one of us want, we'll either split a group of offsets (she generally packs them in multiples, 2-4 I think) or find another way to juggle (eg, everybody missing one, instead of one person not getting 4 varieties they asked for). I know you are all good about letting me mess with the final numbers!

took me a while to get that last posted & we crossed...

Terri, thanks for your input! Drachenblut just nudged higher on my list LOL

Daniel, appreciate your kind words! It's really fun to organize group buys with this bunch... everybody is willing to be flexible and generous with each other, and I get plenty of help when it's time to sort bulbs, send invoices, etc.

If you're interested in hosting group buys, I did a couple of articles for Dave's Garden with our "collective wisdom" on the topic as well as our method for sorting and repackaging. I may have added too many "notes of caution," but the key to a smooth hosting experience it to think through things ahead of time. See for general tips, and these 2 articles for organizing a bulb buy: and

Thanks for the link, I'll be sure to check it out

Just checking in to see if there are any questions?
I will be back home in about 2 weeks and will start working on your individual lists as far as availability. Some colonies have many orders worth available, other colonies may yield only one or two orders. Most of what is listed above are in good supply.

critterologist said: the key to a smooth hosting experience it to think through things ahead of time.

Yes! I quote my mom often on this, but she had a saying as I was growing up "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." I don't know where she learned that from, but it's an adage I live by (almost to the extreme).

I've been wanting to organize a plant swap for awhile now, it's actually what spawned the initial idea that led to the Seed Swap feature here on NGA, but I haven't figured out a great way to ensure that plants don't perish during the redistribution process. Some plants would do okay, but others would be a lot trickier, especially if they are varieties I'm unfamiliar with caring for. I love that you have a means of redistributing directly (in-person) to the group of people who make a combined purchase. It's different than the idea I had, but it is probably a lot more feasible and I may try to run with that idea at some point in the future for the Michigan and Ohio friends here on NGA. Thank you for posting about it, and I hope that you don't mind if I venture into something similar using your idea in the future.

bulbs and semps seem to be a safe bet for trading but any other plants could be an issue especially if it's not a local only trade and if they wouldn't be dormant at the time. Seem like all the blame would fall on the host if some plants where to perish during the redistribution process. Maybe a small time frame trade would work but the host would still be responsible for keeping the plants alive until they are shipped and could prove to be too much for just one person.
I was thinking about doing a dormant cutting trade for those members familiar with rooting hardwood cuttings and grafting. I have tons of fruit trees and always have plenty of scion wood from many of my larger plants every year. Since dormant cuttings ship best and during the dormant season is when everyone is doing their pruning it seems only logical to wait until Feb to host such a trade. Does this sound like a good idea or a waste of time?

Jill, I like that idea about making a wheel with the curved stones and pavers I could do that.
When do you need a final list?