I have tried growing cacti and succulents in Minnesota and some have made it while others didn't. 1. Pediocactus simpsonii( Mountain Cactus) had 3 plants and lost two during one summer, then lost the other one the following summer. I know it wasn't the cold that killed them since they grow high in the mountains and most of the growth is during the spring when it is still cold. I don't think they received enough water in the summer and/ or it could of been the heat. They are known to despise heat especially humid heat. They didn't look dead after the winter so I doubt it was the cold. Im guessing they require more rain than other cacti and in the mountains there is a sufficient amount of rain for good growth. 2. Opuntia imbricata- Survived one winter here but that was it. It could be because all my cacti arn't planted in a raised/elevated bed. The soil is amended though and there is a 1 foot layer of just rock at the bottom of where they are planted. 3. Opuntia polyacantha " Alberta, Canada" - These have survived 2 or 3 winters now and im suprized since Alberta, Canada is a much drier climate than Twin Cities, Minnesota. 4. Opuntia compressa(O. humifusa) These have also survived although one plant it either rotted or a snowstorm or rainstorm damaged one of them during the winter. I took a pad which broke off and was laying on the ground in early march and replanted it indoors in a pot. I put the plant outdoors in May. Now I have two plants rather than only one (I originally started with 2 before the damage). They are said to like cold and wet but O.polycantha has done alot better. 5.Echinocereus viridiflorus - collected from Hot Springs South Dakota. Has survived 2 or 3 winters now and is very small still. 6. Agave utahensis- Peach springs, AZ. It didn't even make it 1 winter. Im not sure if it was the cold or the fact that it got wet when it was cold. It may of survived if planted on a slope or raised bed in rocks. All of my plants are on the south side of the house next to the house so it is warmer and they get alot of sunlight during the summer and winter. They arn't planted in the middle of the yard! So it is kind of a microclimate. I started all of these from seed and didn't plant them outdoors the first winter. I am thinking of trying Yucca glauca , Agave parryi, and Escobaria vivipara. I will have to make an elevated planting area or cover the Agave in the winter. I think Agaves dont mind cold it is the combination of wet and cold that usually kills them. New mexico can get very cold but at the same time it is dry. Florida can get very wet but usually it is warm. Agave americana can grow in Florida and Cuba despite alot of rain but you have to remember it is usually not very cold in those places. Agave americana can also grow in the Southwest where it gets very cold but it stays dry through the winter there.

Thanks, Stan! There are free-roaming Agaves all over this section of the property. Tons of cool rock-piles, too. This particular Agave is the largest, however. David, this Agave is about seven feet tall...just a baby, eh? ;) But seriously, these Agaves have always made me think of giant squid... must be the patterned leaves... Here's a shot of the "backside" A smaller clump by the driveway: Josh

Now you make me really want to take that trek over to the edge of the woods to see, just in case, if any of them have pink blooms, but as I remember them all are creamy white. It's nice to know there are pink ones out there. Found this on the internet: "Members of the Nolinaceae are found in the Southern states of the USA and through Mexico into Guatemala. Unlike most Agaves, all members of the family Nolinaceae are polycarpic and dioecious, with decorative spikes of numerous small creamy-white flowers, sometimes tinged with pink or purple." I looked though a bunch of Google Images, but saw none with pink flowers. I think you found the mother lode, of pink nolinas and pink limestone.

Nil13: Thank you for the good input. Much appreciated. Yes, I’ve been trying to prevent the weeds from seeding; but, admittedly, we have been only about 70 percent successful. Too many weeds in too many places. And it doesn’t help that the neighboring property is wilderness with seeds abundantly blowing onto ours. I think your advice regarding the weed cloths under paths and sprayable areas only is a good one. I’ll save myself the work and expense of laying a mile of weed cloth in the future. On the topic of mulching: is there a particularly good kind of mulch I should use? My experiences with mulching have been dismal. The 5 trucks I’ve brought in were wildly contaminated and brought in all sorts of non native weeds.