Hi friends!
Spent all day making a 4' X 10' bed for the new Sempervivum seedlings. Rowed about 300 in the end of another bed but this year I have 2K+ seedlings from some insane crosses last year so I needed the extra space. Am excited about the potential of these seedlings as I did lots of combinations like very big rosettes X cobwebs and dark purples of all sizes X cobwebs. Some pots have few seedlings, like Michael's Golden X Jewel Case, although the reciprocal cross, has a good many more. That would be one where I would like to see several hundred! Also crossed a bunch of heufelliis last year, combining the best reds. Most of these germinated well, in fact much better than my previous tries at germinating them. The only cross that is germinating poorly among them is Xanthoheuff X Goldbug. However if I can get a gold one that grows it will be worth the effort.
As those who visited my yard may have figured out, I'm a bit of a perfectionist and I tend not to do things a little! So I have been thinking about ways to improve the clinic.
What i was thinking is that we should have the next clinic next spring when these 2K seedlings will be ready to evaluate. I think we should spend most of the time evaluating and observing rather than having me talk, other than to discuss the merits or bad points of particular plants.
The crossing time occurs at a time when the plants themselves look terrible and the garden in general is starting to look bedraggled. I'd rather you see something pretty! So, I'd thought I'd take a series of photos as I go through the crossing process and put captions to each. That way everyone could see the process.
Next year we can schedule the clinic for the height of daffodil season, which is when most of the Sempervivum are at their best. That way you can see 2K daffodils at peak too. Anyway, let me know if that sounds more palatable!
Thank you for all the nice posts. I thoroughly enjoyed having you all come. If I hadn't had two cataract surgeries this spring I would have made more progress in the yard. Still had beds in progress.
Some very intriguing buds in the iris seedlings. we are getting close to a frost tonight so I'm VERY nervous! Think WARM THOUGHTS!
Kevin
