This thread has some real staying power... good idea, Bev. Besides large rosette sizes, I'm also interested in large colony sizes. Does anyone have any unusually large colonies? I know I don't.

I did read Gwen Kalaidis's book "Hardy Succulents" in which she encouraged her readers to try making large drifts of individual cultivars. So I thought... why not... and took my favorite Calcareum (NOID resembling 'Fire Dragon') and took the excess chicks that were popping out of the seams and planted them next to a footpath where I grow a few other vagabond semps.
If these grow like their parent... it should one day be an interesting sight.



So... any oceans of semps out there?

These photos are of a semp bed I had at the previous house in CA. It doesn't exist anymore but the photos bring back memories of what fun it was to have semps to care for in the ground. Maybe not an ocean of semps but a manageable amount of them...

Big colonies of little plants. Top is 'Rosa Spumanti', bottom left 'Santsfeldii', bottom right 'Sprite'.

Wonder seas of semps.

Yes, Bev and Chris... now that's what I'm talking about!

I takes a few years for semps to get going and make large colonies. When I went to my first clinic I could not believe the colonies out in Lynn's raised bed. If I was not completely hooked on these plants those beds pushed me over the edge. Mine are finally coming into some of these masses. Pictures this evening after the sun lowers , crazy bright out this morning.

springcolor said: I could not believe the colonies out in Lynn's raised bed. ...those beds pushed me over the edge.

Yes, in 2014 I felt exactly the same way and still do whenever I go over to Lynn's. Of course, Kevin's place is a Wonderland too!

Yes that place is over the top amazing as well. When I go to both places it is overwhelming. Feel like I never get enough gazing time.

Maybe we need to do a two day viewing for the clinic.

Kevin

Ok so here are the overflowing semps.

Wow...Julia! Very Impressive it all is.
Are you satisfied, Tim????

Julia looks great! I agree it takes a year or so and then suddenly there is a 'sea of semps'!

Wow, Julia! They look beautiful. I really love that look, and wanted to give it a try.
So, I started in June with my first attempt. 'Tederheid' was growing like crazy, so I chose it. They are all doing well and growing fast. By this time next year, I should have the beginnings of a real colony! I'll snap a few pics to share.

It really is amazing how fast some of the semps can form a very impressive colony. I am loving all the photos you all are posting.

Here's the best I can offer. And with the sun out I can't even see what my "camera" is pointing at.

This is 'More Honey' and a NOID, both planted last July. They are headed for a territorial dispute.

Uh-Oh...Where does the priority/seniority lie? ID'ed semp colony versus Noid semp colony? Do looks come into this land dispute?

webesemps said:Uh-Oh...Where does the priority/seniority lie? ID'ed semp colony versus Noid semp colony? Do looks come into this land dispute?

Third party arbitration is the only way... that means me with a trowel in my hand.

I forgot about this guy... not quite an ocean... more like 'Reinhard' Bay.

I do love the shade of purple in the center of those 'Reinhardt' semps!

I love 'Rheinhardt Bay'.

Define "large" :):) I have 4'x8' raised beds that are multip-ly divided. Some I have 4'x4' areas and others as many as 20 per bed. Many are full and crowded. This photo was taken 4 years ago. It would seem that I need to get out the ladder and take some more pix as I am quite overrun with large quantities of plus or minus 150 named varieties.



Quite a few of the larger than 4x8 beds are not shown in this photo