Signs of Spring

Almost every Saturday morning when we are in town, Cindy and I go to the local Winfield Bistro to have  breakfast. The owner has a small parking lot island filled with perennials and a bird-feeder. It's interesting to follow the progress and results through the year. After braving the bitter cold this morning, loading up on carbs and then arriving at home, I noticed something peeking from the snow in the hell strip.

The tulips have arrived. I had almost forgotten that they had been planted.

Skirting around the garden, signs of life lead to signs of death.

 Agave parryi 'trincata'. No Bueno. 

I think this Agave parryi , it is still turgid. Hopefully I have found a cold hardy variety.

Colorguard Yucca starting to recover I believe.

Now back to my construction projects. Yahoo......

 

Spike it!

Volleyball anyone! No, spiky love of course. I have zone envy when it comes to spiky plants like Agave, Aloe, Cacti, succulents etc. Especially the blue foliage varieties. But I also struggle where to place them in my never ending always changing design themes. Am I Cottage, Prairie, Xeric, Mediterranean, contemporary, Japanese, country, industrial, masculine, feminine, texan, californian, blue, white, silver, green, native, exotic, tropical or just plan plain cornfused? Or is it ok to be ADHD? Or is it Garden Attenion Disorder, GAD? I don't know but I love to spike it.

Yucca rigida at left with Nasella tenuissima. The blue yucca was planted last October having purchased it in west Texas during my sons wedding and has fulfilled my spiky lust.....some of it anyway.

The Agave(Manfreda) Collection-the two on the left (orange pots)came from a Dallas Nursery from my son for a fathers day present(Manfreda 'macho mocha ' and Agave-unknown. Plant three (center) is Agave parryi 'truncata', found last weekend on a clearance shelf in Wichita, Kansas(can I have an amen!) cold tolerant(zone 6) and I've been lusting after this one forever. Last agave I have no idea on ID? Anyone, I'll enlarge below.

Agave parryi 'truncata', look at the pups.

Agave ? My guess is straight species parryi? I know, the picture is lousy.

 This last Agave, no label on plant? Same as the one above?

Now the Yucca's: Yucca gloriosa 'variegata' and Yucca filamentosa 'Color Guard'(small plant) below in temporary positions.

And finally an image from this spring of Hesperaloe funifera, another plant purchased in West Texas during my son's wedding.

 Well how's that for spiky love? Two days ago I planted three of the agaves in the ground in the corner hell strip.