Friday, June 10, 2011

Just how many agaves are there in the danger garden? (subtitled happy birthday to my brother)

Agave ‘Cornelius’

Today is my younger brother Darin’s birthday, his 40th birthday actually.

Agave ‘Burnt Burgundy’

Since I don’t have kids this is probably the closest I’ll feel to that “my kid is turning 40, I am old” feeling that I hear parents get, after all I’m old enough to remember when he came home from the hospital (what? You’re thinking that makes me really OLD right? We’ll some 1 yr olds have great memories!...actually when my youngest brother Ryan turns 40 in a couple of years then I will really be old, damn!).

Agave americana

Darin lives in Phoenix, AZ. Just the other day I was setting out on the patio, in the sun, thinking about his 30th birthday, we went on a field trip to Tucson, AZ, and how much I miss him (thankfully we are planning to visit him and his family this fall). Then I started thinking about all the agaves he lost last winter in their deep freeze, and about all pups he’s sent me over the last couple of years. Of course that got me to thinking about just how many agaves I have! I wonder if I have 40? Enough to wish him a happy birthday with agaves?

Agave americana medio-picta 'Alba'

So in honor of Darin’s 40th birthday (Happy Birthday Bro!) here are 40 pictures of my agaves, and guess what this isn’t all of them. Yes I have more than 40 agaves. Isn’t that crazy?

Agave americana 'Opal'

Agave americana 'Variegata' and unknown (on the left)

Agave americana 'Variegata'

Agave americana

Agave attenuata 'Ray of Light'

Agave attenuata

Agave bovicornuta

Agave bracteosa

Agave bracteosa

Agave bracteosa

Agave cupreata dwarf cowthorn

Agave desmettiana variegata

Agave filifera

Agave funkiana 'Blue Haze'

Agave geminiflora

Agave Montana

Agave neomexicana

Agave ocahui x attenuata blue

Agave ovatifolia Agave parryi

Agave ovatifolia

Agave parryi 'Cream Spike'

Agave parryi 'JC Raulston'

Agave parryi truncata

Agave parryi truncata

Agave parryi var. parryi

Agave titanota

Agave victoriae-reginae

Agave gypsophila 'Curly'

Agave lophantha 'Quadricolor'

Agave 'Mr Ripple'

Agave Parrasana

Agave Parrasana

Agave potatorum

Agave Shira ito no Ohi

Unknown Agave from Darin, this one has the longest spike of any in my garden

Another unknown Agave from Darin, with lots of pups!

22 comments:

  1. Wow, you do have a lot of agaves! Love the pups! Isn't it a great way to propagate?

    Ciao and have a wonderful weekend.

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  2. That cornelius is lovely-I actually just ordered one along with 6 others agaves from Plant Delights. You certainly have room for a lot of agaves!

    This morning we were also adding more plants to the rock garden including an agave.

    Hope your brother has a great birthday-hey, I actually do have memories of my 2nd birthday so one year old may not be so far fetched LOL.

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  3. You'll be happy to know that gardeners never get old.

    PS Your Agave collection is fabulous !

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  4. That's a lot of Agave's. I'm loving it. Something about gardening slows the aging process, I'm only slightly joking. Actually I'm not joking; as I look around at my 50 something co-workers none, not one, of them looks their age. Anuway, it's about health and attitude. I hope!

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  5. One of the good things about gardening, and I'm serious, is that is slows the aging process. I look around at my co-workers in their late 40's and 50's and not one of them looks their age. Not one. Well, maybe me but I'm almost 60. Anyway it's about attitude right?

    That's a lot of agaves. I love 'em.

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  6. So the Agave thing runs in the family, and your bro will truly appreciate the spiky love.

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  7. That is an amazing Agave collection! I used to have about 10-12 Agave species here, and a countless # of pups of some. After this lovely winter, I might be down to 7-8 species and <15 pups. I need to get some cool pots like yours'.

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  8. wow Loree! I had no idea. All your containers look great btw.

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  9. AnonymousJune 10, 2011

    Do you have all the agave pots covered with stones for aesthetic reasons or horticultural?

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  10. They are my #1 plant that I like to grow. I have a number of Agaves maybe 20 tops, but not as many as Danger Garden.....Where do you keep all of them during the Winter???? Do you have any in the ground in the gardens or all of them in pots? I have a feeling that you and I leave close to each other. I'm in the Cully/Rose City area.

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  11. Not crazy! And Happy Birthday to Darin! It's fun to think my treasured A. americana 'Variegata' was one of Darin's pups from several years ago. Your A. geminiflora looks like what my A geminiflora "Rastaman' was supposed to be with its curly tendrils. Now I'm really confused.

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  12. Awesome collection!!

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  13. Happy 40th to your brother. What a fabulous collection! And thank you for the info on the Chinese yellow banana!

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  14. Loree, always love when I catch one of your posts. Amazing agave collection & blog. Happy B day to your brother. I just bought a Agave attenuata last month and am not sure how often to water it. Tips? Hope you guys have a great weekend.

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  15. Crazy? Crazy cool!

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  16. Over 40 agaves? I knew there were a lot, but damn! I wonder what the Portland area record is? Maybe you're the winner.

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  17. Fabiana, free plants are almost always a welcome thing.

    Nicole, loved the photos of agaves in your garden that you shared today!

    ks, I like it! So I am really only 32 in gardening years?

    Chris U, I like your theory and if you and ks are both saying it then it has to be true!

    ricki, it does...only his passion is more climatically appropriate.

    DD, his collection suffered too, I hear there were many losses...some quite established. Of course this was after an attack by the agave weevil a couple of years back. His garden has had a tough couple of years.

    Ryan, no idea I was so old? Or no idea I had so many agaves? Hhhmm...

    Anon, both! I don't like the look of bare soil in the top of containers I think it takes away from the plant. Also with agaves it allows you to plant them a little deeper in the container and fill up the void with gravel...using soil would lead to rot.

    Beech Street, we are pretty close! I am in Concordia near Kennedy School. I've got several agaves in the ground but most are in containers. In the winter they go in the shade pavilion which is then enclosed to keep the rain out or if not temperature hardy they go into the basement under lights.

    MulchMaid, why confused? I believe they are the same plant...one just gets a silly trademark name.

    Thanks Nat!

    Grace, you are welcome...still no life from mine...

    Michelle, oh we should talk about your agave! Where/how do you have it planted? If it's outside now I wouldn't water it at all until we get a little heat.

    Les, "crazy cool"...I'll take it!

    Megan, the winner!!! Sick but that would make me very happy.

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  18. I feel like such a slacker. Here I am in Zone 10, and all I have is a single agave species! Your A. americana bedio-picta 'Alba' is a great color form. Re birthdays, doesn't it sometimes feel that you only noticed getting older when the people around you have milestone birthdays? There was a loud party next door last night as the person who was a spunky teenager when we moved into the house celebrated her 40th birthday. Made me feel a little bit older.

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  19. Wonderful collection. Nice to see so many all at once.

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  20. I am a little behind on my DG reading. However, this is one of my favorite posts of ALL TIME!

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  21. First Agave ovatifolia is mislabeled. The terminal spine looks like Agave parryi var truncata.

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