If you were getting your normal winter rains, you'd be as right as rain without additional watering, but you're not.... I'd water once every two weeks, on a sunny morning if you can, so the plants have all day to absorb and not get (potentially) cold, wet feet at night. That raised pot will likely need more water than those in the ground. You could use some diluted general fertilizer for these plants, say 1/4 ratio of Miracle-Gro regular formula or the like. I'd use the fert when it's a little warmer, but some folks do it year-around. Aloes, like many other plants, will shed leaves as they grow new ones. It's Agave vilmoriniana, btw (btw#2 - Genus name is capitalized, species name isn't). You've got some fine-looking plants - great to get a dragon tree in the ground. If you're really wanting to fill your yard with succulents (and who wouldn't, considering the canvas you have available) there are a number of cactus and succulent societies in your area that will help you with that deligtful endeavour.

Penfold2: Very nice! I just obtained my first Aloe pronkii, and it's nice to see what it looks like when it's bigger. Your Aloe droseroides has such color and texture! That's practically the color of raspberry sherbet... or a very sore thumb! I'll have to be on the lookout for it. Speaking of dinky Malagasy aloes, I just received my first Aloe inexpectata, too! (From Mike & Maureen Massara of Out-of-Africa plants.) I'm crossing my fingers on its culture. Beachplants: Feel free to post your Aloe bulbillifera in follow-up... either way. After all, my only topic was "Look at this cool thing!" I also have one of the Aloe bulbillifera species. Mine is v paulianae from a large order of nearly 40 assorted species from Institute for Aloe Studies. (I've only killed a handful so far. :-) But I've only had it 6 months and it hasn't flowered yet, so I haven't seen the bulbils on the bloom stalk yet. I was already used to seeing bulbils on certain Agave species, such as Agave vilmoriana, "Octopus Agave". But I agree with you, bulbils on an aloe seem rather strange, indeed! -- DC

Mmmm, sounds like you have quite an exciting challenge on your hands. I would be interested to know exactly where you are in Northern Andalucia, would it be near Cordoba? Fiona is asking all the right questions, and my initial thoughts would be to plant some good screening windbreaks as you already know, although Cypress always reminds me of Cemeteries, I would prefer Pines, then start with some tough structural plants, Agaves, Palms, Cacti and Euphorbia etc.

cactusmcharris - wha?! how lucky for me! I'd love an intro, as I checked out the link and am so stoked for the variety of aloes I can get from IAS. I've found aloes hard to find at the local nurseries and not much easier online. Thank you! Also, your birthplace is the best. It gets such a bad rap being the homely step-sister of San Francisco, but I love it here. And the weather is definitely much better ;) Kara - yay Bay :) whereabouts are you exactly? We have like a million microclimates here, I'm always amazed at what will or won't grow based on where in the Bay you live. As for Blue Glow Agave - I am actually head over in love with that plant, and had planned to line my front walkway with rows them as my next project! So, excellent suggestion! hoovb - thank you! you guys have pretty much convinced me to go the mostly aloe route. I hadn't thought about the flowers and the hummingbirds, all just a bonus.