The squirrel thing accounts for the loss of way too many painstakingly chosen and specially ordered new plants. For anybody with the same issue, I only quite recently read a suggestion to pin a wire basket on top of the new plant.
Once it starts forming a colony, it's pretty safe from the pickleball-playing, nest-building enthusiasts.
John, I want to join your square dancing club!
I can plant 2 new chicks in the same dollar store planter -- same mix, same large drainage holes, same conditions of wherever I put the planter... one will thrive and the other will slowly turn to mush or dry up (if not stolen by squirrels). Is "persnickety" just a semp thing, or is it me? If me, never mind. If a "semp thing," it's definitely a con!
My favorite "pro" is probably the ever-changing display of leaf color & markings. I want to take new photos almost daily. I think that one has already been listed as good interest year-round.
Semp addiction gives rise to a whole different subspecies of gardening enthusiasts. I don't think I'm a member, more just generally plant-addicted, but I do admire dedicated semp growers and breeders!! Thx for a fun thread.
