Dots and Dashes.
Detail of a leaf of Agave americana 'variegata'.  IHNC what caused the wounds to the leaf.
If you look closely you'll see that the cream colored outer stripe is smooth, while the green part is softly mottled.  The entire leaf is extremely stiff and pretty hard.

Conservatory at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens
Ann Arbor, Michigan
January a4, 2013
Detail of a leaf of the Agave americana 'variegata'
A shot of the full plant, which is quite large, is here:  http://smu.gs/13SxvX5

Matthaei Botanical Gardens Conservatory
Ann Arbor, Michigan
January 4, 2013
Cephalocereus Cactus #01-2012M 12
There are scattered dark, dark maroon blossoms high up on the stem.
If you view this in the largest sizes you can see the structure of the topmost blossoms, and see that they are a brownish, purplish, blackish color.

Cephalocereus maxonii.
.
Arid House, Conservatory at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 
Ann Arbor, Michigan
November 1, 2012
Cephalocereus Cactus #01-2012M 11
There are scattered dark, dark maroon blossoms high up on the stem.
I wonder whether each repetition of a band of sparse and a band of thick 'fur' represents a year's growth?

Cephalocereus maxonii.
.
Arid House, Conservatory at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 
Ann Arbor, Michigan
November 1, 2012
Mammillaria #01-2011M 11

Pincushion. Mammillaria unknown_018 (MBG).
Family: Cactaceae

Taken four days after the previous picture of the bud.

Matthaei Botanical Gardens Conservatory,
Arid House,
Ann Arbor, Michigan,
February 26, 2012
Mammillaria #01-2011M 06

Pincushion.  Mammillaria unknown_018 (MBG).
Family:  Cactaceae

February 22, 2012
Matthaei Botanical Gardens Conservatory
(Canon G12)
Mammillaria #01-2011M 07

Pincushion.  Mammillaria unknown_018 (MBG).
Family:  Cactaceae

You can see a bud beginning to form.  I hope I get to see it bloom.

February 22, 2012
Matthaei Botanical Gardens Conservatory
(Canon G12)
Dots and Dashes.
Detail of a leaf of Agave americana 'variegata'. IHNC what caused the wounds to the leaf.
If you look closely you'll see that the cream colored outer stripe is smooth, while the green part is softly mottled. The entire leaf is extremely stiff and pretty hard.

Conservatory at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens
Ann Arbor, Michigan
January a4, 2013
Dots and Dashes.
Detail of a leaf of Agave americana 'variegata'.  IHNC what caused the wounds to the leaf.
If you look closely you'll see that the cream colored outer stripe is smooth, while the green part is softly mottled.  The entire leaf is extremely stiff and pretty hard.

Conservatory at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens
Ann Arbor, Michigan
January a4, 2013
Dots and Dashes.
Detail of a leaf of Agave americana 'variegata'. IHNC what caused the wounds to the leaf.
If you look closely you'll see that the cream colored outer stripe is smooth, while the green part is softly mottled. The entire leaf is extremely stiff and pretty hard.

Conservatory at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens
Ann Arbor, Michigan
January a4, 2013
See photo in original gallery.