Question 1: A: Looks like an Echeveria "Afterglow" to me! One of my fave Echeverias. And a nice big one at that. Be careful touching the foliage to keep the pretty color, and not take off the waxy coating. Question 2: A: Just like everyone said, only time will grow a long stem like that without it being etiolated (elongated between leaf nodes). See how it's still a nice compact rosette at the end even on a long stem? Very pretty. I just started container gardening half a year ago myself, and found it quickly addicting. I wish you the best!

Nice photo. ot me this looks like and ech harmsii or pulvinata that s very young, s like a tiny leaf propagate. te reason I say this is the juveniles have rounder eaves, kin of like a puppy has a rounder nose that when it get older. it also show a different fuzz size to leaf size ration that is typical of the tiny young ones. if this is it, that will change as it matures, like the fuzz will not seem as lush when it matures. Still, it's a fab plant.

illsstep..first pic shows 7 macs..1 was there..6 were planted late summer/early fall 2017..4 were moved from other locations in my yard..2 new cheap Bloomstrucks..this is an east facing spot..I thought if they never bloom they'll make decent filler in an out of view spot..pic2 is the current winter protection..I've tried garbage bags over the plant filled with leaves..once my husband built 3 ft high wooden fencing that we surrounded one with..then filled with leaves..for this year at first I wasn't going to bother but at the last minute filled garbage bags and lined them up and covered the tops with leaves..I totally AGREE with you that here they do NOT bloom on new wood..which is why I try to "overwinter" my old stems..

Thank you all for your kind and helpful comments. Im so sorry this darn app comment section does not work on my phone. My laptop suddenly allowed me to comment. Yay. I soooooo appreciate your time with mock up photos. very helpful. We do actually sit on the bench on occasion but im so used to it that it doesnt hit my how stupid it looks until i see photos lol. I consider scrapping and moving the bench but would i put something large like a big gorgeous limelight hydrange to go huge on the wall beside steps or keep the bench. I have 3 planters in between my garage already so I hesitate to use too many planters and it look silly. What perennials could I plant here? I bough Lobelia /Riviera Marine Blue Lobelia and was thinking of edging the walkway with it but it says it grows 4-6" so not sure if it woiuld look silly. We are going to get mulch this weekend so I am in a bit of a rush to fix this space albeit if even temporarily. It looks SOOOOO BAD i know. Anyone think I shouild divide the area between gravel and landscaping bed in some way?