Plant thieves are pond scum
What do you see when you look at the photo below? If, maybe after scratching your head, you say “nothing,” you would be right. There’s nothing there—not anymore. Continuing our little game, what do you see in the next photo, top center? Did you say “a hole?” You’re right. A hole, partially in shadow. Here’s a wider view: You see the pattern, right? Both spots are empty. But they weren’t, as recently as a few days ago. The first spot had been occupied by this small agave: It was a hybrid by Jeremy Spaeth (Hidden Agave) called Agave ‘Ovaticata’, a cross between Agave ovatifolia and Agave parryi var. truncata . It wasn’t large (yet), but I loved its wide blue leaves and red spines and teeth: The second spot had been occupied by another rare agave hybrid, Agave ‘Sea Star’, a variegated cross between Agave ovatifolia and Agave parrasana . This is the only photo I ever took of it, and it isn’t even a particular good picture: Both agaves are gone. I discovered their absence yesterday. I...