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Needing a trim

If I lived in the front of the garden, then I’d have had a haircut by now," mumbled the Sedum.
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"Because I’m large and  exuberant, I seem to be neglected unless I shout.  This morning, I almost caught the gardener’s attention, but then she began looking for the Shooting Star (Dodecatheon pauciflorum) and forgot all about me.

I could have told her that the Shooting Star was not yet ready to make an appearance. Some plants spend far too much trying to make themselves beautiful before appearing at the spring fête.

I am in desperate need of a haircut. If only I could find the garden shears, I’d trim off my old hair and look just as dapper as those little Liverlilies. Truly I would.
"

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52 responses to “Needing a trim”

  1. Brenda Kula Avatar
    Brenda Kula

    I absolutely love sedums. It is my new thing the past couple of years. The textures just cannot be beat.
    Brenda
    Hi Brenda, I love them too. There is such a tremendous variety to choose from!

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  2. Karen Avatar
    Karen

    And there was me thinking he was peeping out from under a rock and wondering why he was complaining! – Bless
    Regards
    Karen
    Hi Karen, That was funny … it does look as if he’s growing under a rock. Those dead leaves have amazing textures. I almost hate to cut them off.

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  3. Aiyana Avatar
    Aiyana

    Lovely sedum. We don’t see many around here. They don’t do well in our heat, and just keep losing leaves until they are a bare stalk. Coral Beads do ok, potted, in the shade of a patio.
    Aiyana
    Hi Aiyana, I’m surprised to hear that. I would have thought that these plants would do well there. Coral Beads are attractive …

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  4. mss @ Zanthan Gardens Avatar
    mss @ Zanthan Gardens

    I’m loving these posts from your plants. Clearly, I’m going to have to spend more time listening in my garden. Currently there is a bit of a cacaphony. I was surprised to see my sedum album blooming the other day–clearly ignored and overlooked.
    Hi MSS, it is amazing to hear what the plants are saying – I enjoy eavesdropping on their conversations … your sedum was probably happy to be noticed.

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  5. Tammy Avatar
    Tammy

    LOL would you go cut it’s poor hair already!
    I don’t know what a zone is but it’s mountain cold at 3700ft in CA. My slideshow has new flowers and we are starting a wysteria across the deck railing.
    Hi Tammy, I gave it a trim, but not a full haircut because we are expecting a batch of cold weather … it is growing more happily though.

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  6. teeni Avatar
    teeni

    My, you grow such independent-thinking plants! LOL. Nice post!
    Hi Teeni, they are rather independent and come up with some pretty zany ideas.

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  7. kate Avatar
    kate

    I am dying to get outside and clean up the garden; the last few days have been very windy and I just don’t want to fight that! The place is a mess enough as it is….
    I love how your plants talk to you. I’m glad I am not the only one with intelligent plant life in my garden!
    Hi Kate, I know what you mean – we are having some high winds these past days and I don’t want to be out in the garden with stuff flying everywhere. Plus we know there’s always a cold dip and cleaning too much in the garden is a recipe for disaster.

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  8. Lisa at Greenbow Avatar
    Lisa at Greenbow

    By all means give that sedum a little attention. It surely wants some.
    Hi Lisa, I gave it a judicious trim – nothing too dramatic until it’s warmer out.

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  9. Linda O'Neill Avatar
    Linda O’Neill

    How does that happen?…you wake up one morning and your hair needs cutting? I’ve had many a time when I wanted to get the garden shears!:)
    Hi Linda, I have the same thing happen – have actually taken my deadheading scissors to my hair on occasion.

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  10. Kim Avatar
    Kim

    That sedum is sooo right about “some plants.” grin
    Hi Kim, I agree with you there …

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  11. nikkipolani Avatar
    nikkipolani

    You can tell this dear one we love it just the same – and The Gardener certainly did not forget it!
    Hi Nikki, I passed on the message and the sedum was much happier to know this!

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  12. Paolo Tasini Avatar
    Paolo Tasini

    Bello, I like this mood 🙂
    Keep on groovin’ Kate!
    Hi Paolo, thanks – I will keep on groovin’ and shakin’. LOL

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  13. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    I’m enjoying these posts so much Kate 🙂
    Quite a few of my plants have been begging for “haircuts” too. I worked outside tonight until it was too dark to work anymore. I finally feel like I’ve made some progress cleaning things up.
    Shooting star is one plant I’ve always wanted to see in real life.
    Hi Amy, I’m glad you like! I’m pretty slow at giving haircuts until it warms up a bit more.
    Shooting star is so pretty, although it appears and then disappears quickly. One year it didn’t show up, but the next it did.

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  14. wiseacre Avatar
    wiseacre

    My Autumn Joy prefers to stay silent and not draw my attention. I have a habit of snapping off their heads and sticking the stems in the ground. I don’t believe there is an easier plant to propagate.
    Hi Wiseacre, your sedum behaves better than mine. I haven’t snapped off this one’s head yet … maybe that’s the solution. I often pull off bits of my groundcover sedum and they root so quickly. I love that.

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  15. Diane Schuller Avatar
    Diane Schuller

    oh Kate, these are delightful … I can hardly wait until the painter in you ruffles the leaves of those in your talking garden!
    Diane
    Hi Diane, Thank you! I have been out sketching some in the garden … I should try painting this … I love the look of the dead leaves on top of the new growth.

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  16. Shady Gardener Avatar
    Shady Gardener

    I have heard many of my plants begging for attention lately! (You can tell my my photos!) LOL! 😉
    Hi Shady, your plants shouldn’t complain too loudly. They look mighty fine by my standards!!

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  17. Cheryl Avatar
    Cheryl

    I am really enjoying these posts Kate. So original and imaginative.
    I need to get out and do some cutting back methinks!!!
    Hi Cheryl, Thank you – I’ll keep on writing them. They sort of come to me in fits and starts.

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  18. Pam (Lady Luz) Avatar
    Pam (Lady Luz)

    Just caught up with your new site Kate and it’s a pleasure to see your succulents stirring.
    We’re just reaching the end of a big project, a clean up and planting ,and are ready for the new mosaic.
    Hi Lady Luz – Thank you! I’m glad to see my garden slowly coming to life – very slowly. I am looking forward to seeing your new mosaic!

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  19. PG Avatar
    PG

    Mine is coming up too, I wonder if it has been shouting at me and yelling for a haircut?
    Hi Gretel, Probably it is … sometimes they take awhile before they start yelling loudly.

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  20. lettuce Avatar
    lettuce

    i think sedum (what is the plural? sedae? can’t be sedums!) are far too tolerant to get the attention they might really rather like.
    🙂
    Hi Lettuce – It should be Sedi, although most everyone says Sedums. They really are too tolerant and forgiving … poor souls do like more attention than they usually receive.

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  21. Curtis Avatar
    Curtis

    What a trully wonderfull plant sedum is. Takes sun to shade. water is an option. Hardly any plant can do without water for weeks at a time like sedums.
    Hi Curtis. I agree with you about them. They tolerate much, although they certainly thrive in well-drained soil.

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  22. Dee/reddirtramblings Avatar
    Dee/reddirtramblings

    I thought those were rocks on top of him too. I hope you gave him a trim.~~Dee
    Hi Dee, the dead leaves do look like rocks. They look as if they’ve fossils embedded in them.

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  23. Selma Avatar
    Selma

    Your posts are so enjoyable to read at the moment. You have captured the voice of the little sedums perfectly.
    Hi Selma … thank you. I very much liked reading about the honeyeaters. I wish we had some of them here. They’d definitely be part of the story.

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  24. Mary Avatar
    Mary

    Sedum!!!! That’s what I’m missing from my gardens! I had loads of it in Maryland but have sadly forgotten them…
    Hi Mary, I imagine sedum would do well in your gardens. I like them because they require no work.

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  25. Billy Goodnick Avatar
    Billy Goodnick

    Kate – got time to play? You’ve been tagged. Stop by my web site for the rules…BG
    Hi Billy, Thanks … I’m going over to check out the tag now.

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  26. grannyfiddler Avatar
    grannyfiddler

    so encouraging to see green somewhere. the pussywillows have been half out for a month here… it just won’t warm up. and we’re hovering in the -10 range again. i your sedum were here, he’d be asking for a quilt, not a haircut!
    and thanks for the very excellent link you left at my place.
    Hi Granny, It is supposed to be colder here this week. Brutally windy today although we haven’t had any snow. We had a few hot days, but spring has been so slow in its arrival here too.
    Today the sedum would definitely be asking for a quilt.

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  27. Louise Avatar
    Louise

    Sedum does just about pop up anywhere. I like it like this, when it is just emerging. It does tend to swamp other plants when the stems get long and it starts to flop. x
    Hi Louise, so far I’ve never had a problem with Sedum flopping – maybe the growing season isn’t long enough for that!

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  28. Marie Avatar
    Marie

    I love sedum! Great post!

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  29. Gotta Garden Avatar
    Gotta Garden

    I thought maybe they were saying, “Now? Is it time? Now? What do you think (nudging to the left…and then the right)?”…but, then, they are your plants and their special language is known only to you. As it should be.
    Take care now.

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  30. Ki Avatar
    Ki

    For a moment there I thought the old leaves were rocks piled up behind and above the sedums. Quite interesting to see the size difference between the old and new leaves.

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  31. Alyssa Avatar
    Alyssa

    Oh, Kate! That poor sedum! He sure does need a trim or at least some cleaning up. Don’t they have the neatest, squishy leaves??

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  32. Karine Swenson Avatar
    Karine Swenson

    Insight comes in the most interesting and unexpected ways, doesn’t it?

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  33. Sandy Avatar
    Sandy

    I just clippered up mine today. And, I do think they feel better now.

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  34. Diana Avatar
    Diana

    I can just imagine your sedums preening, preparing for their Spring coming-out party. We had real-hair pruning at our house last week — you’ll have to go check out my April 17 post! http://www.sharingnaturesgarden.blogspot.com

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  35. Sean Avatar
    Sean

    Hey Kate! Long time no post [for me]. Glad to see spring finally coming your way, last time I vistited you were getting blankets of white snow. Nice sedum photo, still thinking about that cold hardy bamboo?
    Sean

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  36. gracia Avatar
    gracia

    “If I lived in the front of the garden, then I’d have had a haircut by now,” mumbled the Sedum.
    I suspect this is what my sedum mumbles, too, though in my case it is the back garden that receives all the love.
    see you, g xo

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  37. Frances Avatar
    Frances

    Hi Kate, your plants certainly have different personalities, some happy, some grumpy. We love our sedums here, but must get down closer to hear their voices. Our shooting star did not come up this year, but I won’t give up on it since I read in your response that it may still be alive. Good.
    Frances at Faire Garden

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  38. Annie in Austin Avatar
    Annie in Austin

    Hello Kate,
    Like Karen, I also thought the sedum had already recieved the haircut and was peeking out from under a rock – oops! Giving this sedum a trim would be more like cutting off a large chignon on a grande dame and leaving her with a pixie cut.
    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

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  39. Mr. McGregor's Daughter Avatar
    Mr. McGregor’s Daughter

    I think it’s great that you can understand what your plants are saying. There’s so many clamoring for my attention right now that I can hear a single one. Do you pinch back your Sedum during the growing season? I never have, but if I remember, I’m going to try that this year.

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  40. San Avatar
    San

    Kate, you’ve inspired me. Tomorrow morning I am going to cock my ear in the direction of my indoor geraniums–I wonder if the coral ones will speak in a different accent from the white ones and the red ones and the hot pink ones.

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  41. Yolanda Elizabet Avatar
    Yolanda Elizabet

    Really Kate, this will not do; no neglecting the sedums! 😉 Here they are growing away like there is no tomorrow and I’ve been trimming and cutting their hair 2 weeks ago so that they look nice and tidy. Never a dull moment when you have a garden, especially if it is full of talking plants. 😉

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  42. our friend Ben Avatar
    our friend Ben

    Ha! Another delightful post! I think the little souls look very perky and should have no trouble growing up and around their old carapaces. (Though admittedly, I did just rescue my sempervivums from death-by-celandine poppy seedlings, which are damned and determined to root in their trough…)

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  43. Simon Kirby Avatar
    Simon Kirby

    Hi Kate
    I’ve tagged you on my blog, so you’re it. Hope you want to play.
    Cheers, Simon

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  44. Cris Avatar
    Cris

    Dear Kate
    How are you
    We don’t talk for a long time.
    I’me having some problems that let me away from the blog, but today I decided to dedicate my night to talk with all my friends.
    Is’s a bit strange your new blog, I must acostumize to it. I also would like to change mine, but if I don’t have time to answer the comments, when can I get time to change something?
    By the way, I left an award to you in my garden, go there to pick up it.
    Good weekend to you
    Cris

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  45. Sarah Laurence Avatar
    Sarah Laurence

    Hi Kate,
    I love your thoughts on this shy shrub and the textures in the ladybug photo below. My one concern is you don’t seem to be posting as often or as much since your move to this new site. Still unpacking and settling in? I hope it is just that and not a flu relapse. Take care!

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  46. Wildlife Gardener Avatar
    Wildlife Gardener

    Beautiful photo, Kate. I love these dainty little plants and have some in my rockery. Have a good weekend 🙂

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  47. willow Avatar
    willow

    My Dear Sedum,
    Please tell Kate that you are welcome to use my shears. I’ll send them right up by next post!
    Love, Willow

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  48. joey Avatar
    joey

    A BIG ‘hello’, Kate, from a friend afar wishing you a delightful spring.

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  49. kerri Avatar
    kerri

    The old leaves looked like rocks to me too. I hope you reminded the Sedum that the gardener knows best and he will have his haircut all in good time.
    I’m enjoying the show, watching my sedum dish garden emerge from its winter sleep.
    I’m interested to see the Shooting Star now! I’ll be watching for it.
    I love your sense of humour, Kate 🙂 I hope all is well!

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  50. Dirty Knees Avatar
    Dirty Knees

    Kate,
    Are you still having crazy weather? I hope spring has finally arrived for good!

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  51. Ki Avatar
    Ki

    Hi Kate, I haven’t seen a new post recently. I hope you are recovering nicely.

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  52. Barbara Avatar
    Barbara

    This is a very cute picture of your sedum! Well observed and a funny interpretation, Kate!
    Have a nice Sunday!
    Barbara

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