At the back of the Priory, in a corner formed by two walls, is a manhole cover. Not a thing of great beauty – it’s not like it’s a 16th century manhole cover.
But what it is, is an excuse to bring out some of my cacti and succulents from the greenhouse and give them a little summer air. I shall need to scurry back to the greenhouse with the tender ones before the first frost. Though the semps and sedums are frost hardy, I put them under cover to keep off the worst of the winter wet.
The Anxious Gardener 
Ah, Janet. I wondered how long it would take for someone to notice the 'what happens in winter' question. Thought I might display a rather handsome 1960's manhole cover …
D
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Beautiful, I don't normally much like succulents, but you are forcing me to reassess. And a great way to hide a manhole cover. What will you use during the winter?
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Hi Michael, a happy coincidence that the pots kind of work together – they were just what were sitting about the greenhouse. They're virtually all mine (rather than the Priory's) as my new garden is still not ready to receive them.
Hi Helen, I'll look up your collection, if I may?
Hi Stacy, yeah it is Sedum spurium 'Fuldaglut'. Glad you like it, though you mustn't eat it – smile. Underneath the manhole cover? Why, over inquisitive types, Stacy, over inquisitive types!
Hi Boys, I do protect the semps from winter rain as they hate to be lying in the wet for weeks/months on end – who wouldn't – and either put them in the cold frame or greenhouse. Glad you like the display. I look at it and think, hmm must trim the lavender.
Thanks Janet, it only finally dawned on me this year to hide the ugly great manhole cover.
Dave
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Great display of pots. You can never have too many! Great for hiding a multitude of sins as well as showing off your sedums and succulents.
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I like your succulent display and the way they are grouped together in terracotta pots. A good idea to hide the manhole cover!
I suppose you don't need to protect the sempervivums at least, and can leave them in situ. Sempervivums are such underrated plants (which reminds me we need to get a few more!).
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If it wasn't a beautiful manhole cover before, it sure is now. I'm beginning to lust after your collection of semps. And the flowers on the Sedum spurium(?)–wow.
Would that all prickly pears could be so well protected (I can't believe I just said that)–yours is absolutely pristine, a prickly pear to be proud of. Whenever I try to photograph them in the wild, it's a challenge to avoid all the scarred, bird-pecked, weather-beaten bits.
Dare we ask what's underneath the manhole cover…?
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I have been eyeing up my display of succulents and thinking I need to think about moving them in under cover soon
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I reminds me of the arrangement of pots at the entrance to the house at Greta Dixter, Dave. Great combinations of color, texture and mass. You have made it a thing of great beauty.
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