JungleShadows said:Guess we need a Semp Police to keep the names straight! Certainly putting out the names and pictures on the plant data base here is a big step in that direction.

With the breakup of the Sempervivum Society and Sempervivum Fancier's Association there is no ruling body to govern the naming. We are all on our honor!
Kevin

Kevin, When I first learned about Sempervivums, I was surprised to discover that they did not have their own Society. Is there any hope that a Sempervivum Society could be re-established? I'm sure there must have been some political shenanigans that put the old one underground -- sometimes when the old folks holding hatchets are also buried, something can be started afresh? There seems to be so much being done in Europe as well; it would seem as if there are enough enthusiastic people to begin an international society, not just an American one.

Do you have any thoughts about that? Even daffodils have inspired their own amazing society... MR

JungleShadows said:MR, I grew semps in a very cold Zone 4-5 MA garden for years. Only a few things did not grow well, 'Commander Hay', for one, I wuld grow and lose every year. Finally gave it up as a bad job. Mrs. Crane's garden was in Dalton MA, which was also very cold and of course Cleveland Morgan, the famous gardener and hybridizer, lived in Montreal. Not exactly the tropics. And of course these are ALPINE plants for the most part so they can take a Zone 3 winter with no problem. The baby seedlings would be my only concern. Those you might want to protect. The best thing for that is Garden Quilt or Remay. You can cover whole beds but be aware it can BLOW AWAY. Make sure it is weighted down or tied down with staples. preferably BOTH. If you are prone to ice, then the Remay is good for protection.

I should do a confession. I had covered a bed of newly transplanted Pacific Coast Native irises with Remay and we had some severe wind even though I THOUGHT I had enough rocks on it to secure it (OR has more wind than I would have expected before I moved here). The Remay was gone. Two weeks later I was walking at a park in downtown Salem. Along the edge of a brook I noticed, you guessed it, my long blown away Remay, 7 miles away. If it wasn't in the ice cold water, I would have rescued it. The next time I went the Remay was gone, but I was still embarrassed. I don't like to create trash. Now the Remay has both staples and rocks on the edges to keep it in place!

Kevin

The shadecloth bed covers that I've made are of 60% woven shade fabric. One edge attaches to the long sides of a bed with 3 or 4 screws that stick out a bit and stay in the beds year-round. The other side is stapled to a length of 1"x3" furring that keeps it rigid and weighs it down to keep it in place no matter the weather. When not in use, they are rolled up (around the furring strip) and stored under some benching. We are Zone 3 in my area and (unless it's mis-labelled) 'Commander Hay' does OK here.

Kate those look great!!
MR - if there were a semp society I'd join! But I don't have the energy to start one Maybe there are many sempers like that!

Looking good Kate, and very efficient.

MR,

The problem with the two semp societies is that they really weren't societies as they had no officers. Each was run by one person who edited the printed material. When they decided to stop, so did the society! Obviously this is NO WAY to run a society as the loss of one member is not a death blow to a group. I certainly think we have a nucleus for a group with the ATP members and the Europeans. Maybe this is something to discuss after the clinic. I'm voting Lynn for President right now, however! Do I hear a second???

I do think it might be advisable to do it as an international group as the Europeans have so many keen enthusiasts. With internet publishing we could definitely do newsletters that way. Having a society means that you would have a person responsible for registering the names and keeping that straight. We could also institute judging that I have been teaching at the clinic so that we could have an awards system or popularity poll too. Those are valuable to buyers as you are sort of overwhelmed in trying to pick out new cultivars when you're starting.

Kate, those are impressive beds! Do you use the shade cloth for winter protection? I could do the same on my semp beds and I am using the bird netting on one right now where the chipmunks have reeked havoc. The bird netting seems to have stopped most of their tricks, thankfully.

Kevin

I love the idea of starting a new international semp society, and I second Kevin's vote of Lynn or President!!

I will have to decline.
We need some one younger and than I am, some one that has the time to devote to such a high position.
I would love to be a helper in any capacity.

Ok Julia, you are the one!

Your funny Patty! No thanks but would be willing to help.

Chris??? @goldfinch4 or Greg @gg5

And don't ask me I am older than Lynn and I don't know enough.

I split this topic from the thread it was on. Sure don't want to lose this topic. Please stay on topic in this thread.
Who knows, this may be the beginning of something really grand.

I think this might be a good winter project so that we might could really do something at the clinic this spring.

We need a good computer person to do things like web sites and transmitting the newsletters electronically. Fortunately, there are lots of "article starts" in the ATP posts. I'm sure Kate's semp beds, Mark's stonework, etc are all areas that could be made into nice articles, for example. Bill Nixon had a Q&A section plus a "Chick of the Month" that were regular features. Peter Mitchell documented the species, covering a few in each issue.

Anyway, you all put your thinking caps on and see what things we need.

Well Lynn if I can't vote for you for president I'll have to vote for you for CHEERLEADER! I don't know anyone that can get everyone's enthusiasm up like you!

Greg could be president of vice or is it vice president......

OK I'm bad.

Kevin

Working full time I definitely would not have the time.

President of Vice.
Bet there aren't very many societies with members carrying that title.

I would love to be 'Cheerleader'. I could also help with the electronic stuff. There are many here already that can work on research, articles, etc. I agree with what you said Kevin, about Mark's stone walls, container, and Kates wonderful beds.

It would also be wonderful if some of our amazing European semp lovers would like to work together in some aspects? Like what's going on in the European breeding of semps, verification of European bred semps. Things like that. The team that Peter was part of is doing a wonderful work of carrying on with his vision.

I really am behind this project - sadly I am not the person to head this! But I plan to keep my ears and eyes open to see if maybe I can find someone locally here who has the time/energy and desire/passion to do this!! I really would like to see this happen, and think it is a possibility! And totally agree that here at ATP we already have a great start!
The Europeans don't speak enough english, and I don't speak enough German, French, Dutch, Czech or whatever else is needed!

But just look at how much good Peter did for us. I am sure we can find a way to incorporate ideas, articles, etc. from both sides of the big pond.

Yes Peter would have been my first pick for president. I think he had the vision and knowledge to pull this off. Maybe some of his colleagues will take this up. Erwin publishes a newsletter on his web site too.

Greg, well I had 7 years of French but it was 35 years ago and I think most of those brain cells are dead! I can read it a bit, especially scientific papers as the words are so similar. However, Google has a translator program that works great. I use it on the German sites although it also changes the cultivar name to an English translation too. That can be confusing.

The other thought I have had is getting the sedum society to incorporate us into their group (or maybe a HARDY SUCCULENT SOCIETY). They publish a nice newsletter and quite often publish articles on semps too. It would get them more members and most of us do BOTH anyway.

Kevin

Now that is a thought to cultivate.

Kevin I love that idea!! And Lynn love your humour!

That's a great idea Kevin!