I think you nailed it. Sounds like liberal application of a chainsaw and herbicide is the solution. Will offer both to the new neighbor to nip it in the bud. Much appreciated! Marc

Dear metalguru, blue agaves must be one of the worst succulents to deal with, I did have a varigated americana agave that managed to pierce the kids basketball years ago! Recently we (stupidly ) let a furcrea that was flowering an enormous flowering stalk continue to see what happened, and it ended up dropping masses of small bomb like plantlets all over the area and down into the very spiny plant itself. Another one down the paddock was so tall that it was threatening the overhead power line and we had to cut it down, (The western power man checked to see that it was done) Lesson? Furcreas don't seem to be monocarpic-ie dying after flowering and any flowering stems should NEVER be allowed to fruit or you will regret it.

Not sure why but it is darn near impossible for me to find images of cottonwood seedlings on google. It is the seedling leaves you need to look at as they look different than those of mature trees. I am 99% sure it is a cottonwood seedling in your pic. There is a line of mature cottonwood trees across the street from me and when they release their fluff in early summer it looks like it is snowing. I pull hundreds of these seedlings out ever single year. But you can always wait until next year to find out for certain. Rodney Edit: I found 2 pics. Here's the first. And here is the second (although this is of a western cottonwood, Populus fremontii).

Yes, it is my understanding that most all of our African violets originate from these first ten hybrids. African violet hybrids were developed in Europe but they were only used for seed. In those days, early 1900's, if you wished to grow an African violet, you obtained seed. No plants, no cuttings. Walter Armacost visited firms in Germany and England while scouting for new orchids. He liked the violet plants he saw & thought they would make good houseplants in the US. So, he came home with seeds from these early hybrids, planted them at the A & R firm in California. About a thousand seeds resulted from which 100 were selected for final testing and from those, 10 were chosen as superior and thus we have the Original 10; they were released to the public about 1936. The main greenhouse manager, (would have to look up his name,) was given the honor of choosing and naming his "pick of the litter," for all his efforts in raising and testing the plants. He chose his favorite and named it Blue Boy. Other growers obtained seeds from England and grew plants and later other species were introduced to develop trailers, but these Original 10 were the first in the U.S. to be named and distributed. Terri