Sunday, June 16, 2013

Century Plant

I was out walking one morning when I saw this Agave or more commonly known as a Century Plant, in bloom. These cactus send up a tall stalk that looks rather like a giant asparagus, and then they bloom. Once an agave blooms, the plant dies. They actually only live 10-30 years, so calling it a century plant is not exactly right.
This is what the agave looks like before it sends up a giant stalk. This was an agave that was growing along side the  agave that was in bloom.
It's so large I had to take several photos showing each section. These always remind me of the trees in Dr. Seuss' book, The Lorax.

Here is the agave at the base .
You can see the thorns and how succulent the leaves are.
The large thick stalk.

I had to stand back far enough to get the entire plant in the photo. You can see how tall it is compared to the house next door. The agave can average 26 feet in height.
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15 comments:

  1. Daryl that is amazing. Thanks so much for sharing it. Never seen one before. You did a great job of capturing it for us.

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  2. WOW! Those plants are everywhere here, but I've never seen one in bloom...unless I just thought the plant was growing around a tree. That plant looks really small too. I think they live longer than 30. Some here have been around for longer than that. I will certainly be paying more attention to them! I just love it when I learn something new!

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  3. Wow! So does the bloom die too? So nothing is left? How do the plants survive? You have my mind asking questions a thousand miles a minute!

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  4. HI!!!! Wow!!!! I love this!!! I have never seen one of these before!!! Thank You

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  5. wow, I just love seeing these plants they look so incongruent with their impossibly tall flower on such a little base. We've had such strong winds I'm amazed they didn't get blown over. Your photography is excellent, you've really captured their beauty.
    thanks for sharing
    tara

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  6. That is very interesting, I am glad you shared this.

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  7. I saw one last year on my walk and it wasn't quite as tall as yours but now when I walk there is nothing. I always thought they grew back. Poor thing!

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  8. I've never heard of this! Thanks for sharing!

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  9. Hello Daryl:) Thank you for stopping by my blog and after my lovely vacation I'm now playing catch up:) I hope you are well and enjoying your week. The photos are beautiful and it sure is big. it sure reminds me of the Dr. Seuss hee hee :)
    Hugs,
    Norma

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  10. Hi Daryl,
    Thanks for that post. I had no idea that agave plants did that! Amazing. The photos really captured it.
    Karen

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  11. What a beautiful plant. It reminds me of a Yucca. Shame it dies after it blooms.

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  12. These photos bring back memories of when I lived in Santa Barbara -- agaves like that climate too. Great pictures!

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  13. These photos bring back memories of when I lived in Santa Barbara -- agaves like that climate too. Great pictures!

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  14. WOW! Thanks for sharing. I have never seen one and I had no idea they were so large. Not to sounds too blonde, but I assume this is the plant from which we see agave nectar? Does the nectar come from the "stalk" or the base?

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  15. Wow I never realized they got that tall. It's kinda sad that once they bloom they die though.

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