How Many of You Think Hen and Chicks Will Grow in Barnacles?
May 15, 2012
Here in Northern Minnesota, we are just buying our annuals and getting around to planting. (Actually, I'm a little early, Memorial Day weekend is the big planting weekend here, because the chance of frost is supposed to be over).
So far I have planted my grad party (purple and gold) pots, the bottle capper pot, and the kitchen fairy garden. I will carry in the pots and cover the fairy garden if need be.
Today, I looked at this dismal looking section of flowerbed...
Up until last year, this little patch of dirt was home to a creeping juniper that got waaaaayyyyyy out of hand and was creeping out into our lawn. We were lazy and didn't dig out the root system. Just cut the juniper off as low as we could. The soil was not really improved much. It looks pretty dry here.
Last year I purchased a flaming carpet sedum mix and angelina sedum for this space. They had shallow root systems. I filled in the empty spaces with hen and chicks and alyssums. It looked pretty decent.
This year I decided the hen and chicks were so dark red that they hardly showed up. I saw my my garage sale barnacles from a previous post just laying there on the potting bench and got an idea.
I brought the barnacles along to the greenhouse and picked out two New Guinea impatiens that looked like a similar color.
I sunk this terra cotta pot into the soil, added the impatiens, the barnacles and added a little soil to the barnacles' holes and put the smallest hen and chicks, (chicks, I guess) to the barnacles' holes.
I am now wondering if this will work? I know people are planting hen and chicks in frames, shoes, crocs, you name it, but not barnacles.
I sunk a flat terra cotta pot in the soil and placed more hen and chicks in it. Also added a few more hen and chicks in the area.
I think there are three or four different types of hen and chicks (sempervivums). I have trouble with the cobweb type, they never make it through the winter. The round bright green ones are a little iffy with some of them making it through the winter. The reddish ones and reddish tipped ones are pretty hardy.
What do you you think? Do you like it? Will they grow?
I always enjoy planning and planting flower pots and beds. This year is not any different!
So far I have planted my grad party (purple and gold) pots, the bottle capper pot, and the kitchen fairy garden. I will carry in the pots and cover the fairy garden if need be.
Today, I looked at this dismal looking section of flowerbed...
Last year I purchased a flaming carpet sedum mix and angelina sedum for this space. They had shallow root systems. I filled in the empty spaces with hen and chicks and alyssums. It looked pretty decent.
This year I decided the hen and chicks were so dark red that they hardly showed up. I saw my my garage sale barnacles from a previous post just laying there on the potting bench and got an idea.
I brought the barnacles along to the greenhouse and picked out two New Guinea impatiens that looked like a similar color.
I sunk this terra cotta pot into the soil, added the impatiens, the barnacles and added a little soil to the barnacles' holes and put the smallest hen and chicks, (chicks, I guess) to the barnacles' holes.
I am now wondering if this will work? I know people are planting hen and chicks in frames, shoes, crocs, you name it, but not barnacles.
I sunk a flat terra cotta pot in the soil and placed more hen and chicks in it. Also added a few more hen and chicks in the area.
I think there are three or four different types of hen and chicks (sempervivums). I have trouble with the cobweb type, they never make it through the winter. The round bright green ones are a little iffy with some of them making it through the winter. The reddish ones and reddish tipped ones are pretty hardy.
What do you you think? Do you like it? Will they grow?
I always enjoy planning and planting flower pots and beds. This year is not any different!
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I think they'll do just fine. Just add a little garden gnome to watch over them. :@
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post. I just remembered I have plants in the garage that need to be watered!
I think they'll grow. They look fascinating!!
ReplyDeleteI love this! I've been spending some time in my garden - I've got my fingers crossed on my garden surviving! :) Would love for you to share with my followers at my linky party {stringtownhome.blogspot.com}. So glad I found you - I am your newest follower!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week-
heather
I think there's a good chance they will grow! A hen and her chicks are a pretty tough family. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHi Carlene, to tell you the truth, I don't think you can kill hens and chicks. lol! Seriously, those babies are resilient. Very creative idea and we'll see if I'm right or not.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Jann
I think that is such a cute idea! The hen and chicks look great!
ReplyDeleteWell, they have to have soil so depending on how much soil you can fit in those "barnacles" they might make it. Are those the fungi that grow on the side of ships and boats? I've never seen any dried up ones. They look like paper roses.
ReplyDeleteCarlene, I LOVE them in the barnacles! How pretty. I'll bet they'll be fine since you don't get the blazing hot temps like we do here in GA.
ReplyDeleteLet us know how they do. All you plants look great.
Babs
Hens and chicks are pretty durable plants. It takes a lot to do them in. I think your idea is quite creative. ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking to Time Travel Thursday this week, Carlene.
Blessings,
Liz @ The Brambleberry Cottage
I love this idea Carlene. They are so awesome. I really enjoyed this post. I would love it if you would share this post at our WIW linky party? Hope to see you there!
ReplyDeletePaula
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Paula