GL, No, it isn't - the one pictured on the U2 album is located in the US. Socks - Yucca brevifolia's common name is the Joshua tree.

That is a great example of microclimates JoJo! The time spent at the minimum temperature (minutes, hours, days) plays a big role in what temperatures a plant can survive. So does the amount of water in the plant, and in the soil. Dry plants are much more tolerant of cold compared to wet plants. Plants in the ground can survive colder temperatures than plants in pots. I have found most of my plants can tolerate much lower temperatures than typically listed. These lows are brief, just a few hours at most, and it's at least 20 degrees warmer during the day. So plants that are supposed to not go below the mid-thirties F can tolerate minimum temperatures in the high twenties. Agave ferdinand-regis is listed at both +5, and -12 in the list above. The difference between a minimum average temperature, absolute minimum temperature, and Fahrenheit and Celsius scales is often confused. Minimum temperature listings should be regarded with great suspicion, even when coming from a more or less credible source like Desert-Tropicals. It is better to research the plants natural environmental conditions. I would not give much credence to this, or any other so called 'minimum temperature' list. There are too many variables for these to be accurate to any degree. ;) Brad

Our climates aren't that different. I have about 400 washies at my tree farm in 3 gallon containers which I soak every other day, but I have to provide them with at least a couple hours of mid-day shade or they start looking pretty bad. They are about the same size as yours. Is there any way you could provide them with some shade in the afternoon until they get a little more mature? The mulch will help keep your soil from drying out too much and maybe try slow watering for a little longer or tophers idea will work good too. I can also give you a link for trickle or drip systems if you think you might want to try that?The timers I use are inexpensive and just put a control valve to suit your volume you need to keep them moist.The wall will be a big benefit for you in the winter months. I will give you a couple of these that are grown in the heat with lots of sun(filibusta and filiferas) if you'll handle the shipping if those don't make it. Just email me and we can go from there. I have robustas, but very small seedlings. palmerosatreefarm@sbcglobal.net

I grew up with my mom's old back copies of Sunset- it's probably the best source of fun projects we've ever had. I should really get back to looking at those and take some on. Well, maybe not the "Make Your Own Hot Tub," but one of the others. It really does seem as if the cost of printing a magazine is so high that the content has to be nearly all about ads. And not just official advertisements- so many pieces are just lists of things we can buy (and those lists have the strangest ideas about what's affordable). I'm not opposed to the idea of cool-stuff lists but it feels like there's not much else sometimes.