I came across your post purely by accident and it just so happens I was recently drooling over this awesome website. The pictures at the bottom of this page in the link look to be exactly what you are wanting to do. And these pictures are SO cool! They have an excellent reputation and looks like a two for one deal going on. Has anyone ever ordered from them? I`m seriously thinking about it myself!

Here is a link that might be useful: Display gardens at North Hills Nursery

Here are some close-ups

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So now that you can see the pictures, does anyone have suggestions to make it even better. I did consider putting gravel in to make the burgundy ones pop, but I have a pesky cat that wants to use this garden (and many many areas of my backyard agh!) as his personal toilet so would gravel encourage him? I would think so. And then he would move the gravel around...agh! I also think as I find more varieties and as they multiply, I may want to make the garden bigger. But any other suggestions would be so appreciated as this is in my front yard and all the neighbours see it!

Wow, I like your garden! I don't think it needs improvement!I would just let it grow. I like your combination of plants and stones and the differnet colors. Great!

Wow. You`ve collected a wonderful assortment of plants. Gorgeous. Wait until they fill in! (And please send pics then!)
I wouldn`t change a thing you`ve done.
I would however, make the bed larger!
Maybe add some dwarf conifers?
Great job!

Adding dwarf conifers? Good idea. I wonder how that would work. Where would I plant those when I get the chance to make the garden bigger? On the edges or stuck in a little? Does anyone have pics of there alpine/succulent gardens?

I`m afraid all I can give you is the IDEA of conifers, lol. I don`t have much knowledge on them, just thought it would be a wonderful, and beautiful low maintenance addition to your succulents.

I'm doing a hen and chick garden this year too. I'm also using creeping sedums as fillers.

I bought a number of chicken-shaped planters and chicken-shaped wire baskets (ebay mostly) to place there. I've planted them and named them...Little Red Hen, Chicken Little, Mother Hen, Funky Chicken, Chicken in a Basket,etc. I'm still working on Chicken Pot Pie, in a pie tin...and Nest Egg, a living wreath-type wire chicken nesting in a white cement "eggshell". I'll also have H&C filled strawberry planters to put in the chicken yard. I'm having fun.

Hi, your succulent garden looks great, I really like it.

I started a succulent garden last year and planted different kinds of plants. But I think the idea of only "hens and chicks" is wonderful.

Here's some photos of my garden to share with you.

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Xuan

Stunning garden, Xuan! Very beautiful!
Mike

Thanks, Mike.

Xuan

Here's one of mine.
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botann, that looks great. I really like those rocks.

Here are a few closeup pics of some succulents in my garden

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Beautiful garden and plants. Really gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.

Xuan

Wow I love the idea of a garden with only hens and chicks :) I have a pretty red/cream variety if you would like a few babies just drop me a e-mail.

My friend and I just ordered the 36 sempervivum collection from North Hills Nursery! I'm so excited! Can't wait until Saturday to plant them all! Thanks for mentioning the N.H. Nursery website on here.

Do most of you use Al's Gritty Mix for your semps? I don't have all the ingredients but I do have Turface,sand,gypsum,perlite,bark,etc....

You might also want to check out Squaw Mountain.

Here is a link that might be useful: Squaw Mountain Gardens

Thanks Brandon. We did check out Squaw Mountain before we ordered (and we're in Oregon, so it was almost "local"!), but we're very happy with our purchase from North Hills Nursery (have you check them out?). And now they're all planted in Al's Gritty Mix and looking very happy indeed!

P.S. I wish this forum was more active!

Using Hen and Chicks and Sedums together works because they are, for the most part, the same size or scale. Most don't 'eat up' the rocks so you can't see them.
I plant a lot of Sedums, Echeverias, and moss in old Hibachis. The sedums color up real well when they are allowed to dry out before watering.
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dizadncr, I'm doing my best to help this Forum to be active.
lol
Another plant I like to use with Sedums and rocks is dwarf Armeria.
The white Sedums turn red when experiencing water stress and in the sun. It has to be gradual, rather than sudden.

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haxuan, I love your succulent garden. Very well done.

Here's a Hen and Chick variety of Echeveria called 'Arachnoides', because it looks like a spiderweb.
Note the little tree frog.
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I put some sedums and saxifrages on this little bridge. I put a liner down and then nothing but wood chips on top of that.
Seems to work well in partial shade.
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Mike

What a great idea, Mike. And that Echeveria 'Arachnoides' is awesome.

tj

All those pictures are indeed awesome. My planted area is still sparce but I managed to fix that.

I'm a believer in the theory that gardening should be fun. To that belief, when I started my hen and chicken garden last year, I endeavored to create something that would be unique. Hence, I created small displays to depict various chicken associated expressions. So far, the plants haven't filled out much. It's a big area. You can see some pictures of it at the link.

Here is a link that might be useful: Fun with hens and chicks

You can always go to a larger scale like I did here and plant sedums and Echeverias between the rocks. Paying attention to scale is the important part. Positioning the rocks so they appear to 'belong' is also important.
I call this area my giant bonsai, miniature old growth, sub-alpine forest on a windy, rocky ridge.

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A friend and I put all these rocks in place by hand just using a couple of steel bars a two shovels. I haven't added small plants yet. When I do, they will be of the smallest variety. I don't want them covering up the rocks too much.
The moss was started by putting soil on the rocks and then firmly placing moss on the soil. Our Fall and Winter rains did the rest.

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Not done yet. Some tweaking is in order. Isn't that just about always the case?
Mike

Impressive !!!

Rick

Hi Everyone, if you all are looking for a top dressing for your rock garden try the unmedicated chicken grit. It is very inexpensive to use and makes a great rocky covering. I use it all the time and love it. You can get it at most feed stores since it is used for chicken. Remember not to get the medicated kind as it is pink in color.
Enjoy.
Also! a great site to check out is www.wildgingerfarm.com