Wednesday, 25 April 2012

april showers bring ... agave updates?

I was recently so inspired by Danger Garden's April Agave Update that I thought I would bring you one from my neck of the woods.  So far April has been much kinder to me than March.  With significantly less rain and the promise of summer just around the corner I really can't complain - much.  It's kind of crazy to think that last summer I planted my first agaves!  Truth be told, it has become a wonderfully bad habit of mine.  I can only hope to have a collection like that of danger garden.

Here are some of my rather drenched agaves ( I can't wait for summertime and evening agave shadows!!!)
Agave parryi var. parryi

Agave Ovatifolia

Agave Ovatifolia "frosty blue" - not looking all that blue in the rain. This agave overwintered really great for me.  I had to do some minor agave surgery and remove an arm.

Agave Parryi Huachucensis - most recent addition!

Another Agave Ovatifolia "frost blue" planted last fall.  This one still needs agave arm amputation.  Otherwise it seems to have made it through winter just fine.


This is the first agave I ever planted and I don't have a definite ID.  There was speculation at Parryi or Ovatifolia. It has a much deeper green than my other agaves and overwintered without any blemish.


 This agave Cornelius came into the house during are cold spells but has spent most of the year outside. It has exploded with growth in the last weeks.

And for good measure ... palms, agaves and yuccas!!!!


What agaves should I plant this year?  That is the million dollar question so to speak.  
Happy agave growing everyone!




Posted by at
Labels: , ,

4 comments:

  1. danger garden25 April 2012 at 22:19

    WOW! Your Agaves look amazing!!! Everyone of them, yes I am jealous. So tell me more about your soil and the planting conditions, did you amend?

    Excellent work....you're going to have monster Agaves in no time! (are these planted where others can see them and be inspired?)...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Louis26 April 2012 at 00:11

    Thanks! you know I was actually kind of worried about my soil being too rich and heavy. But a few years ago concrete block retaining walls were built to enlarge the patio. Along the backside of the patio (last photo) is southern exposure and built into the hillside making it a nice micro-climate. There are 100 foot plus tall trees behind the planted areas you see there which also makes the area a fair bit drier so I think that is the main benefit. That being said, when I planted the agaves I also mounded up the soil a bit to drain away from them and mixed in some sand and gravel near the surface. I'm hoping thats enough in the years to come to keep them happy. On a sunny day, no matter what time of year, heat just collects into that hillside which makes agaves and yuccas prime candidates (in my opinion at least).

    I really hope to have a monster agave!!! sadly, the front yard is lack luster at the moment... but I surely invite people on back all the time. Much of the side yard is exposed to the street and is full of palms and bananas which usually elicits requests for a tour.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Desert Dweller26 April 2012 at 07:51

    You did a great job with selection and culture! Those look to mature into some nice plants, that will very much help enhance the palette of plants for dry sites in your zone. Amazing what can perform that task.

    Now, for a warm, dry summer...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Louis26 April 2012 at 10:09

      I really hope for a warm, dry summer!! With the patio and the raised planting bed, heat just collects in that spot. Surprisingly, water is incredibly expensive and we do see a fair bit of summer drought so I'm hoping that the agaves will make things a little less high maintenance come summertime.

      Delete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)