Ooh, it looks like a LOT of work for you, Dirt! Tell me you really like snow and that it's not possible to have too much of a good thing... Hang in there you guys and keep warm.

Chris, I think the critter is either a mouse or chipmunk. If squirrel, I think the semps would be pulled up for tasting. The pattern of damage is something that is standing there munching thru the center of the rosettes...Argh!...why couldn't they eat the outer leaves instead so the semps can still grow????? Their tiny brains not in sync with my small brain...

Bev, I've had rabbits eat the centers out of some semps and they actually did grow back. As long as they didn't eat all the way down to the roots they did recover. Wishing you good luck with them!

I used to really like snow!! Back in my younger days, I was a snowboarding fiend and regularly attended the Church of First Tracks in Fresh Powder
now, I like to look at it alright but I would prefer not to have to clear sidewalks and driveways--hoping for more tolerable temps and not too much rain on top of the snow cuz I'd kinda like to sculpt a big snow monster out in the front yard

Anyway,
HUGEST praises and gratitude for wonderful husbands to the rescue!!!
Poor Asa had the flu and a raging fever, yet he still transported the snow blower thru the blizzard for me, and he brings the hounds up for visits often (yesterday we took them snow-swimming up the canyon, hilarious watching dogs try to run thru snow over their heads), helps keep me stalked on food/supplies, and he's taking care of all the stuff at home, including the jungle of house plants and hasn't even killed any yet

Lots of critters looking for a meal. I just have problems with newly planted semps. Squirrels think they should hide food under the semps. There replanting skills are not so good. Warming up today. For those of you with all the snow stay warm. for fabulous DHs

Chris, thanks for giving me some hope; I won't throw out the green carcasses just yet...
Dirt, your life does NOT sound boring... at least, not Asa's...
Julia, those less than desired replanting skills probably result of the less persnickety minds?

Happy times for my noid semps..they just love this rainy cool weather! Nice to see them so green and not crunchy dry

goldfinch4 said:Tim and Lynn, hope the ice storm didn't last too long or cause too much damage.

Rumors of an ice storm appear to have been greatly exaggerated. A slow thaw appears to be in progress.
No ice in sight but who knows what the night will bring.

Tim,

We had "grapple" here plus a couple inches of snow. Some other (higher in altitude) areas of Salem got more of both. Good weekend to say inside.

Am on the last throws of the book. I think it should be pretty. Am right at the edge of the 200 pictures allowed though!

Kevin

Tarev, those semps really are looking happy.
I especially like the coloring of your 'Sir William Lawrence'

We ended up with about 4" of snow, then some light frozen rain/grapple over the top. Today it is 40° and raining snowing. Of course all the snow/ice is gone from the trees and such, still lots on the ground and raised beds, but it is slowly disappearing.

Thanks Lynn! We got a break in the rains today, sun tried to peek but back to being overcast. One more round of rains coming later!

I wish more than 200pictures were permitted in the book--I like pictures glad to hear that you are maxing it out though Kevin

weather report, will wonders never cease? good thing I didn't bother sculpting a snow monster--we've had pouring rain, wicked winds, thunder and lightning, and then we were pelted with ice balls before it started snowing again.
I give up. The driveways and walkways are just gonna be skating rinks

Yep, we have another round of bad weather forecasted. Everyone stay warm and safe.

In the cultivar chapter I got 77 photos in plus I sneaked a few others in elsewhere. Was a little concerned about using some of the new German cultivars in this book but many are coming to the US or are already here. All the nursery people are working to get these introduced over here so I decided to go with quite a few of these too.

Anyway I hope you all enjoy the book. Wish I had more pages and was allowed more figures but this will be a good start.

Kevin

I'll be excited to get your book, Kevin, and you need to start thinking about what to add to the next one.

I'm excited about your book too Kevin! Be sure to keep us posted when it becomes available!

JungleShadows said:... Wish I had more pages and was allowed more figures but this will be a good start.
Kevin

plantmanager said:..., Kevin, and you need to start thinking about what to add to the next one.

Sempervivums: Volume II?

Yes, I think there should be sequel Kevin.

Did I wake up in Wisconsin this morning?
Another record breaking winter event for us this year. Twelve inches overnight and it's still coming down like gangbusters. The first three weeks of this Winter have been more brutal than any other entire Winter that I've experienced here in the last 30 years. God only knows what the rest of January and February will hold.



This is very heavy snow. Enormous tree branches have come down. My chicken fence is laying on the ground under huge layers of snow. Poor Agaves I doubt stand a chance of survival. Actually, one of them may and if it does I will plant its pups all over the place. What you can't see under that snow is that those Agaves are locked in a collar of ice after the previous freezing rain. If we get another freezing rain this week, they will be nothing but Agave popsicles, entirely encased in ice. Live and learn.

Yup it has been one wacky winter season indeed . Rains, winds, blizzard, tornadoes..the whole gamut. Glad it is tapering down now.

No snow here just cold. Think we went down to 15 last night.