Tuesday, July 5, 2016

And so we party, because that's how we plant people roll...

Here in Portland it's been a good year for exotic blooms. I've written about a couple in my garden, but two friends have had blooms so note-worthy they've thrown parties!

First up was Heather's Dasylirion texanum, which she wrote about back on Bloomday in June (here).

To celebrate the rather tall bloom she and Greg hosted a party complete with several different Sotol (booze made from the Dasylirion). She also made a delicious Sangrita to chase the Sotol and tasty food treats. I'm outing her as being a terrific cook!

Naturally since the party took place in the evening the lighting for photos was rather poor, but this one shows off the curly yellow-cheetos look.

Pretty fabulous!

The most recent party "The Death of Sharkey...or, Sharkey's Big Bloomin' Adventure" was to mark the blooming – and thus impending death of, since Agave are monocarpic – Lance's Agave 'Sharkskin'...

Unfortunately Sharkey didn't play along and kept the actual flowers closed up tight on the evening of the party. That didn't stop us all from having fun and snapping lots of photos though.


Such a tall spike from a relatively little Agave...

The whole thing started to sway in the wind and look like it might topple over so Lance secured it rather unobtrusively with fishing line. Swaying and toppling is fine in an Agave's natural habitat, not so much in an urban setting where it could fall on a car or passing pedestrian.

There are a couple other nice sized Agaves in his garden, we might be back for another party soon...

Oh and in case you're wondering, yes...there was tequila on hand for toasting.

So what about you, been to any parties where the reason for the gathering is a fabulous flower spike?

All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

13 comments:

  1. Fun excuse for a party! I hadn't thought about the shock it would cause if Sharkey's bloom fell on an unsuspecting car or pedestrian - I'd probably scream and crash! And now, after the party, I see Sharkey's blooms are finally opening - what a diva.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indeed, Sharkey really knows how hold us all in suspense.

      Delete
  2. That would be a lot of parties where I live! I should have taken photos on a recent drive in the country where sotols were blooming wall to wall for at least fifty miles.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ya you guys would have to change up the reason for the party. Maybe a Peony successfully blooming or something like that. (and re: photos, yes! You should have!!)

      Delete
  3. I don't think I have enough friends that would care about plant happenings. My bamboo is flowering, and so will my Pachypodium lamerei soon. I'll just quietly celebrate myself...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nah take the celebration to the interwebs, where we can all join in with you!

      Delete
  4. Oh my, what unique reasons for a party!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indeed! Nice there are booze products made from both of the guests of honor...

      Delete
  5. I'm putting these parties on ever-lengthening list demonstrating the differences of the garden climate in the PNW and that in SoCal.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ya, I suppose you've got a point there.

      Delete
  6. I like the idea of plant parties! Thanks for the idea. Great example specimens, too!

    ReplyDelete
  7. There are drawbacks to working weekends...missing these parties being the main one.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh that I lived closer to plant party prone Portland! Thanks for sharing the excitement!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to comment. Comment moderation is on (because you know: spam), I will approve and post your comment as soon as possible!