Fearful symmetry! (#2)

Mixed sempervivums at Laporte Avenue Nursery (dot com!)

 Once before I wrote a blog about "fearful symmetry" (a very different one!)--but the rosulate form is surely a fine example. And few who live in cold climates have fully utilized the ultimate rosette: the sempervivum. These are a few pictures I took yesterday at Laporte Avenue Nursery--one of America's great mail order sources of all manner of superb wildflowers and alpine plants: but they grow succulents as well--and have an especially good assortment of these gems.

The scrumptious reds

 Everyone loves the red ones best---and they have lots of them...

MORE semps at Laporte Avenue Nursery (dot com!)

 Love the contrasts!

Orostachys spinosa--an honorary semp.

 Actually more closely related to sedums, but this has to be in your collection too!

Wonderful contrasts

And more...

More stunning contrasts!

Sempervivum ciliosum

 This is one of the very best--not only for the wonderfully ciliate leaves, but bright yellow flowers in early summer!

Various cvs. of Sempervivum arachnoideum

 The cobweb houseleeks are must haves--not just kids are dazzled by the very authentic looking cobwebs in each rosette--but these too have gorgeous pink flowers in early summer....

Austrocactus patagonicus...sneaking in...

 Young rooted cuttings of a rare South American cactus that has never before been offered--this is one of the hardiest south Americans. And Laporte has a corner on the market!

A tiny taste of the other alpines there...

 I will soon post pictures of the masses of color in their various greenhouses--the alpines are all coming into bloom!--but here's just a taste...

Austrocactus patagonicus

 Back to the Austrocactus: I can't wait to see mine bloom--they are very variable in color and habit...

Austrocactus patagonicus

 A close closeup: if you need one of these, just check their website and place an order!

Euphorbia clavarioides ssp. truncata

 And here is another choice succulent they're responsible for establishing in cultivation--this one from South Africa.

Cuttings of daphnes rooting

 The daphne cuttings are rooting nicely! They're a great source for daphnes too...

Kirk Fieseler with beloved dwarf conifers

Kirk--half of the team who own this nursery. The land is Kirk's and Kirk is the force behind the wonderful line of dwarf conifers (and he does the peonies and a good deal more.) Kirk was the force behind Spring Creek's fantastic rock garden as well--which was in pretty fine form this week as well. You can see Karen in other blogs I've done about this nursery: which I consider to be a national treasure. Order NOW! Order often, and you won't be disappointed! If you follow all those hyperlinks you'll be busy all spring (and won't regret it!)...