I’ve been posting more this year about what’s growing in my yard because . . . well, because this year there’s more growing in my yard. So, come stroll with me, and I’ll show you some of what is giving me so much pleasure.
In the very middle of the above photo, is a pretty blend of colors — pink ice plant, blue flax, orange wallflower. And lots of green!
Come summer, these plants will bloom with purple magus echinacea, yellow coreopsis, daisies, and cottage pinks, but for now, I’m enjoying those healthy-looking plants.
In the middle far left of that same top photo, is a splash of pink ice plant. The picture doesn’t do it justice — as you can see, the ice plant forms a solid mat of gorgeous blooms. (All of that from two plants I bought a few years ago!)
Behind me, as I’m standing taking these photos, is my hens and chicks garden.
It’s hard to see the detail because some of the plants seem to blend with the ground, but as you can (maybe) see, there are three colors of succulent: purple, bright green, and dull green. The entire garden of hen and chicks came from five dull green plants, two bright green and one purple.
One of the many miracles of gardening is how you can get many plants from one.
Yesterday, I’d planned to get the petunias and other plants I need for my containers and to fill out empty spots in the garden areas, but there’s a chance for a freeze in the next few days, so I’m playing it safe. But still, there’s plenty to show off on this garden stroll. Thank you for walking with me!
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Pat Bertram is the author of Grief: The Inside Story – A Guide to Surviving the Loss of a Loved One
Bertram's Blog 
May 5, 2026 at 8:27 pm
So pretty
May 6, 2026 at 12:14 pm
A lovely morning stroll, thank you. 🙂 What gorgeous colour on those Ice plants!
I was interested to see your Hens & Chicks. My next door neighbour has a patch of them near her front door–mostly green ones–that seem to thrive on neglect. Our small front lawn areas merge, and we decided to join forces and replace the grass with river rock. It’s certainly lots less work than grass, but very ‘spare’ looking and maybe a bed of the Hens & Chicks inserted to add a little colour would help while surviving the surrounding dry rockiness. I’ll have to see what she thinks. I like the rock border of your bed.
May 6, 2026 at 1:13 pm
The hen and chicks surprised me. I thought they were a desert succulent, but they don’t seem to mind the winters here, which can get very cold — way below zero, nor do they mind the dryness. I like that they look like a bunch of fallen flowers. I bet they’d look good with your rockiness,