Danger made me do it! That is, I was so inspired by the agave update on danger garden this morning that I thought I would do a much smaller version myself. That is obviously because I don't have the epic collection like Loree - but its growing pretty fast!
I thought I'd start with agave ovatifolia 'frosty blue.' This one was planted out last fall and sailed through winter. It had one arm amputation in early spring but has grown enough that you can't even tell. I love this little agave.
Agave parryi var parryi was new to me this year. I had wanted one of these for the longest time and kept telling myself next time .... and thankfully next time came.
And look, it has a baby!
Another agave ovatifolia 'frosty blue.' This is my largest in ground agave. It's hard to tell from pictures but this one is really starting to put on some size and gain that sense of agave presence in the garden.
This agave parryi truncata, however, has that cute baby agave look. I understand the 'retro choke' tags that you often see on these ones. But check out those wonderful pokes!
This agave bracteosa 'calamar' was a long time coming. I have only talked and talked and talked about how much I have wanted one of these. This summer I finally took the plunge... it was on clearance!!! That is such a good feeling when an object of absolute plant lust is sitting on the clearance table.
Another agave ovatifolia 'frosty blue' ... I kind of have a thing for these ones. But truth be told, I don't think they are the best PNW agave. Most agave growers up this way swear by agave parryi.
This is my mystery agave. It has one sad arm but otherwise took everything last winter could throw at it in stride. It was in part shade and really neglected. So I thought I would change its conditions and moved it to full sun and super well drained soil. I think it is an agave parryi of some sort.
Another agave addition was this agave parryi huachucensis. It has two pups visible from this angle and another one just a few inches away! I think this is most gnarly looking of all the agave parryi. It has that little extra dose of danger.
And here's a couple potted agaves just for good measure.
Actually your collection is rather epic, especially when you stop to consider you are in Canada after all! Everything looks amazing...and I do think you're right about the mystery one being a parryi of some sort. Your 'frosty blues' all look so wonderful, much better than mine! Please promise to post updates throughout the months that would usually be considered winter but since we aren't having one this year we can't call them that.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I do have to pinch myself. And to get an epic from mrs danger on my agave collection is about as good as it gets! Thanks :) !! I will definitely keep updates during the wet season.
DeleteThats right I would blame it all on Danger also(shame on you Loree)..........Watch out Louis I'm doing Opuntia fever in the next couple of days, you are really in trouble. Danger and I are going to corrupt you so bad you will not know what hit you. Its like some kind of gardening crack, a little is good but more is even better.
ReplyDeleteThe pups are adoreable, I was cleaning up in the Yucca bed and found another pup today. I'm sure it is the sibling to the other one I posted last week in the Sedum post. Parent plant is Silver Ghost. Great job on your collection!!!!!
Opuntia fever!?!?! I love it. I'm excited to see that. It is like gardening crack. Just keep it coming that's all I have to say!!!
DeleteGorgeous agaves! I especially like the one in the last picture! Is that the new A. Americana variegata that you got at Southlands?
ReplyDeleteThanks. It is most certainly my new southlands addition. It's agave Americana medio picta alba ... My fav!!
DeleteSo you put agaves in the ground too! I am just going to have to take the plunge with my A. bracteosa, especially since I have a 'Calamar' as a backup. Love the collection, Louis. You are on your way to danger garden north!
ReplyDeleteI have an agave addiction. its becoming a problem it seems. A very wonderfully good problem!
DeleteI am SO happy to see frosty Blues in B.C. Im in Victoria and have raised 8 of them indoors in my 350 sq. ft. batch pad. they are getting too big!!
DeleteI was told they would turn to mush outdoors.
Im gonna go for it... A sunny spot . some sandy loose soil. any other hints? This is my first blog.
Not sure what a url is
Ive replyed as anonymous for the moment..... Steve is my name, Ill figure it out sooner or later !!
That is soo awesome!! Thanks for taking the time to post Steve! I love Victoria so much. You guys get slightly less rain so that's already in your favor. In terms of hardiness frosty blues can take any cold we can throw at them. It's all about the moisture. Mine is in a raised bed, southern exposure, and large trees that suck up most of the ground moisture and even provide a bit of canopy. So they are in just about the best conditions for this area. When you plant yours, plant them high in the soil, amend it with rock or chicken grit, give them a hot sunny spot. That's how they will do best!
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