The Agave saga.

Posted on 4 Mar, 2009 12 comments

Suddenly I saw it….the huge agave in the front garden was getting a funny stalk in the middle. “What is that?” I asked myself and went to investigate. It looked interesting and I knew it was going to be a flower ( in the end ). I had seen these plants in the South of France, where they are cliff hangers, crookedly haning, huge and often I have seen them in flower. This was going to be my own South of France plant. For days and weeks we watched. We watched it grow and add on inches after inches, day after day. I took pics and posted them on GOY.

But…because of this monstrous thing in the middle, which must have been 40cm in diameter, the leaves of the plant were opening up wider and more sideways, over the path and the lawn. The plant was in a silly spot anyway and my hubby couldn’t pass easily on the mower. So he “pruned” the darn thing, which always was accompanied by swearing, as even through his gloves he got pricked on his hands. So he sawed some of the bottom leaves off. A week later more were in the way, so once again they were taken off. It looked a funny plant now, I didn’t like it. But I just ignored the sight and only looked up at the skies where this Jack and the beanstalk kind of growth was showing its full development. I took more pictures. Meanwhile flowerbuds were emerging from the branches of the stalk. Even birds were sitting on them. It was about 6 meters tall by now.
Then it happened. It slowly but surely was keeling over, towards the roof. No wonder, when the bottom say 14 leaves had been chopped off; it simply had lost its balance. It was so to speak top heavy. I lost my patience…of course we could have propped it up with all kinds of stakes, but it was in the wrong spot anyway. So…..the end was in sight.
Next move was the chainsaw. Hubby could play farmer again and in a swift few moments, this agave was a gonner. It was hard sawing as a lot of fluid came from the bottom of the trunk, more like sage from a sago palm. Well, that was that, after cutting it up in “bite size” pieces so we could easily transfer it into the wheelbarrow, we just tidied up the mess and another gardening chapter was closed.

Then I noticed someone else down the road also had one in his garden. I was a bit green with envy, as his was flowering and all the bottom leaves were still on it. No wonder the plant was still standing with this enormous stalk and flowering branches, it’s base was still in tact. I took that picture, which I posted here of it, just to remind me of what I could have had in my garden.
Such is life, at least hubby won’t harm himself any more and can just mow away the lawns with ease.
May this be a lesson to all of you agave growers….leave the base in tact or else, it might one sunny day, keel over!

Comments

Nariz

Funny blog Marguerite! Although, don't the plants die after they've flowered? If you'd been able to stand the beast draping over everything it would have quietly gone to its maker with no problem. That's what seems to happen here with the several that grow along the side of the mountain road - and they are spectacular when they flower. Perhaps you can try again in a more convenient spot?

4 Mar, 2009

Marguerite

Thank you Nariz for your comment. This beast would have collapsed on my roof and looking at the weight of the thing would have made quite an impact. No, we couldn't risk it...I will not have another one, as they cause too much pain. I have a baby of it growing and I don't know where to plant it.

4 Mar, 2009

Blodyn

Pitty it was in the way Marguerite. It would have been nice for you to have it in flower in your garden. If you get another one be careful where you plant it.

4 Mar, 2009

Sandra

i hate wrong plant wrong place...;-((

you could have used the plant to make (my laptop does not have the letter to the left of w...lol) te_uila. the blue agave is grown for this in mexico...

4 Mar, 2009

Amy

Never mind Marquerite , you made the right decision for yourselves , we all face these problem plants from time to time ... Perhaps you will find somewhere for your little one to grow happily , meantime you can still admire the one up the road :o)

4 Mar, 2009

Marguerite

Thank you all for your comments. I don't really miss it, as other plants around it get more sun now. I will not get another one and that baby...I probably will give it away. My garden really has no room for anything else, certainly not that big. Wise words Amy and you are so right. No big deal, no drama to me at all. I didn't mean it to sound sad.....I have so much garden and so many plants, it will keep me busy enough.When we first bought this place it was full of prickly plants, many bromeliads, cacti and even pineapples. And I hated them all, they looked nice, but you couldn't weed between them without getting hurt. So, I got some thick leather gloves and pulled them all out. Was an easy job, they had them in gravel. I send them with the dustman.....Instead I bought a nice native palm, which is loving the spot and the agaves without spikes are now thriving. I got grasses instead. So, I am happy! That's what counts doesn't it?

4 Mar, 2009

Andrewr

Sandra - you are quite right. I've just come back from a holiday there and saw many agaves in flower. I also sampled the tequilla just to make sure :-)

4 Mar, 2009

Gee19

I would have loved (and laughed) to see your husband at work, Marguerite, but would have had to cover my ears!! Glad you are happy with the outcome - sometimes these choices have to be made in gardening. I had a lovely fir tree in my garden, given by a friend, but it grew far too big for the space. I dug it up carefully and gave it to a friend with a large garden. I felt guilty as it was a gift but it was impossible to live with!!

4 Mar, 2009

Gilli

Well, my philosophy of gardening is if you aren't happy with a plant...shovel prune. Why waste valuable garden space on something you don't like. Much nicer to have the space filled with something that makes you happy. Good for you Marguerite.
Andrew ~ I'm glad you found your way home after sampling all the tequilla. LOL. Did you sample it the proper way with salt and lime?

4 Mar, 2009

Andrewr

Of course

4 Mar, 2009

Marguerite

Thank you all for your comment and support in our choice. It was just one of those things: it could have happily stayed there if it would have stayed upright, lol. It was really the plants own choice. Gee, I know that feeling!

5 Mar, 2009

Flcrazy

You certainly made the right choice Marguerite, glad you got it down before it fell down on your roof. I have to say , the blooms don't look anything like I had pictured in my head ! ...lol I was expecting it to look more like an Agave Meomexicana plant. It has a very architectural stature.

8 Mar, 2009

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