New agaves planted.

I finally decided on a good spot for the a. bovicornuta. Centered on the window, where it can be a specimen piece.

My cow's horn, a. bovicornuta. Notice the slight variegation.

Here's a picture with most of the view of the front. On the lower level, a. murphyi, the golden barrels, a. colorata, a. macrocantha, a. guingola, and lantana. The deer grass muhlenbergia capillaris 'Lenca' Regal Mist is peeking out behind the rock wall.

It was interesting to read that the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum discourages any grasses except Muhlenbergia.

A. colorata views. I love the leaf impression patterning of this species.

My current favorite agave, a. guingola "creme brulee". I hope it gets specimen sized, however for now it's under shade cloth.

My yard guy Todd had another house he does that had an a. macrocantha with pups galore. So we grabbed 2 a few weeks ago and planted them (left photo). On the right is a picture of the a. murpheyi. I don't think it's a beautiful species, but it was important to the Hohokam people as a food source. So for historical and heritage reasons I wanted to plant it.

Now on to the upper level of the front yard.

There are 2 a. parryi truncata 'artichoke' by the window, a. bovicornuta in the middle of the window, Mexican honeysuckle, a. lophantha 'fatal attraction' on the right by the small rock and landscape light. The bottom right agave is a. potatorum 'verschaffeltii'

A better view of the a. potatorum 'verschaffeltii' on the left, and a. potatorum 'lucky crown' or 'kissho kan' bottom right.

Potted are a. lophantha 'quadricolor' left and 'blue glow' agave hybrid of a. attenuata and a. ocahui on the right.

This little fighter is a desert milkweed. Hopefully it fills out.

A. desmettiana.

Now all I need is to squeeze my a. gentryi 'jaws' somewhere in the front, not a pot.

First post

Inspired by agaves, and 2 blogs out of southern California, A Growing Obsession and Piece of Eden, I wanted to replicate what they do, but focused on here in the Valley of the Sun. The only blog from here I'm aware of, admittedly I'm hardly aware at all, is a great blog AZ Plant Lady.

So, without further ado....this morning after an appointment is Phoenix I stopped by a nursery I haven't been to, but have been meaning to get to, Whitfill Nursery. They had some real treasures I took home with me, an agave gentryi "Jaws", an a. colorata, and my favorite an a. bovicornuta with some striation, light multi-coloring. They had some great selections. In fact, leaving there I thought to myself, "I should start a blog along the lines of the ones I read for Arizona desert plants. So for now the photos are weak, the formatting is rough. But over time, like a plant, it'll look better!

Heading back across town on Glendale I stopped at another new nursery, Desert Gardens Nursery. They had some great specimens, and a few beautiful a. guingola "creme brulee" in 7 gallon pots. As I wandered the agave section I noticed about 10 one gallon pots with pup creme brulees. I asked if he'd be willing to sell, and I picked up a pup for 1/10 of the price of the adult. Very productive day!

 

A. gentryi "jaws".

A. colorata, with a pup.

A. bovicornuta, notice the 2 colors on the back leaf.

A. Guingola, I'm pretty excited I was able to get this so small so I can watch it grow through the years.