The 'Hen' only flowers once, but by the time it does, the plant will have produced a nice brood of chicks to fill its space in the garden.

In our area, this mat forming succulent likes to have a little shade in the hottest part of the afternoon, but will grow most anywhere. It's somewhat drought tolerant, but does enjoy a good drink from time to time. They are a good choice for rock gardens and over time will spread out as much as two feet from a single planting. They also do well in containers.

When you notice the center of the Hen begin to protrude, know that it's beginning to flower. And know, too, that it's time to celebrate its flowering as a reminder of how precious life is, always giving way to each new generation.

Hen and Chicks (Sempervivum tectorum) have a long history in Europe as a companion plant, especially grown on tops of houses to help thwart lightning fire damage on dry thatched roofs. Perhaps we could learn from this, as it is truly a fire resistant plant.