Hello and welcome to this weeks Six on Saturday.

There seems to be a definite change in the weather this week and according to the forecast autumn is arriving like a juggernaut this weekend with heavy rain and wind. I have now put all my tender succulents under cover so they can dry out ready for the winter months.  My garden has sort of ground to a halt at the moment and there seems to be not alot happening.  I guess I probably need to review my planting and source some later flowering plants. 

This week’s Six is going to be a Sempervivum special. As I have mentioned this year has been a tough one for me mentally and physically and these little plants have been instrumental in my recovery.  I guess some could say I am becoming a little obsessed with collecting them, so much so I have started buying them from a seller in the Ukraine.  Some people have advised me that what I am doing is illegal and frowned upon after Brexit and I should be registered to import plants into the UK, however I am finding the whole thing confusing.  I have only imported the one plant at the moment and most of the roots were removed and only the thick healthy roots were left and the plant was dry. Perhaps someone reading this post can advise me what forms I need to fill in.

Here is my Six on Saturday.

1. Sempervivum Art

My main project for the end of the year is redecorating my bedroom and adding some office space. Obviously I take a lot of photo’s of my plants. Last week I had the brainwave of getting some of my pictures printed onto canvas, however I had so many pictures I liked I made them into collages and got a local company to print them. I am delighted with the results. So much so I have decided to put a couple of them in the front room.

2. Sempervivum Virgil

This is one of my favourite Sempervivums this year. Last year this plant was struggling and I nearly lost it, but this year it has excelled itself. The rosettes are big and healthy and the purple, grey and green colours have been so effective. I particularly like how the colours blend in to each other and it looks like they been tye-dyed. I have a feeling that the big rosettes will flower next year as the inner leaves are getting much more compact and are starting to spiral.

3. Sempervivum Happy

Another favourite of mine this year. Whilst it just has one colour compared to the Virgil the shape, compactness and vivid green colour makes this plant stand out. Frustratingly it hasn’t very many babies but I have a feeling this will change next year.

4. Sempervivum Killer

This one has as you can see is looking striking at the moment. During this first lockdown last year I bought some plants from a breeder in Germany, called Volkmar Schara pre Covid. Although this one is common in the UK, I wanted to buy it from Volkmar as I knew it would be a quality plant. I particularly like how the green tips blend in with the burgundy colour of the leaf. Again unfortunately it hasn’t produced alot of babies but I have my fingers crossed it will next year.

5. Sempervivum Picasso

Now this plant may look a bit dull compared to the other ones I have posted but I have a sneaky suspicion that this plant is suffering from ugly duckling syndrome and will hibernate during the winter and be spectacular next year. On the plus side the Rosettes are well formed, just a pity the colours seem to be a little dirty and dull.

6. Sir William Lawrence

This plant has performed well this year after a poor start. I had it on a South facing windowsill outside and it suffered during the cold snap last March and then was dried by the warm weather in Spring. Thankfully Sempervivums are some of the most hardy plants out there and as you can see seem to thrive with neglect and poor soil. This plant is from the Calcerum species where the leaves and rosettes are slightly smaller.

That’s my six for this week.  It looks like The weather this weekend is going to be as they say changeable in the extreme so gardening opportunities might be limited.

Until next week goodbye.