However looking back at my earlier posts, starting with March of 2011 here, August of 2011 here (page to the bottom), and August of 2014 here (again all the way at the bottom) I can see that's not the case. Those rusted metal planters have indeed undergone some changes.
For our purposes here though the Agave ovatifolia have been in place since 2011. They were just little things to start out with.
But have definitely grown into remarkable specimens. I could see a few blemishes (winter damage) that the camera didn't pick up, however they're small and should become almost lost when the new growth pushes out with summer's heat.
Here's the second one, at the front of the house.
The poor Phormium isn't looking great, but the Agave is carrying on like a champ!
Just a few bad spots, which again will be less obvious with time.
The next stop on our magical Agave tour is this garden...
I last wrote about these Agaves on October 14th (here). They were showing signs of stress then (especially the large one), and look a little worse now.
However honestly they're still looking pretty darn good, considering.
Mother Nature did a lot of bad things over the winter months, but I don't think she can be blamed for this...
It's never a good sign when the center cone looks brown and wrinkled. Damn.
I couldn't get as close to the big one, but I think it's holding it's own.
I mean it's not looking California fresh, but life's been a little difficult.
I hope it pulls through. Warm days ahead (fingers crossed...)...
Bye bye you big beautiful Agaves...
Weather Diary, May 10: Hi 75, Low 50/ Precip 0
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LOVE those rusted metal planters at the first house. And their phormium in its current state goes nicely with the house colors!
ReplyDeleteIt went even better when it was that color, but upright. Another PKW (Phormium Killing Winter) for the books.
DeleteYou're building up to the review of your own devastation, aren't you? I wish I could leave whale's tongue Agaves outside in the winter here.
ReplyDeleteYes I am. I had planned to do it this week but the posts got so long I didn't get them done. Next week!
DeleteThe ovatifolias in their pots are amazing.
ReplyDeleteThis is one time I'm not looking forward to one of your future posts.
I keep vacillating between thinking "it's not that bad, I have Agaves that are still alive!" to thinking "damn..."
DeleteGlad to see that some of these are doing well and hope that your own agave devastation isn't too horrible. I only left a couple of agaves outside this winter and they did surprisingly well considering the wet winter we had.
ReplyDeleteIn the ground only? Or did you leave some pots out too?
DeleteHopefully those two poorly agaves will pull through, most especially the one with the brown core. The six years in pots ovatifolias look fantastic!
ReplyDeleteIt would be a shame to loose those guys before they manage a bloom, they've made it so far!
DeleteI wonder if the nearness of the first set of agaves to the house helped protect them from the trials and tribulations of your miserable winter?
ReplyDeleteDefinitely, plus the magnificent drainage of the elevated planting.
DeleteConsidering the winter you have had, your gardens are stunning and the 2 agave's by the house are downright dreamy! Like Kris, I'm wondering if the house provided enough of a micro-climate to protect those beauties? Whatever the reason/miracle... you must be sooooo relieved!
ReplyDeleteThe house and the planters both contributed I'm sure, and yes. It's always nice to see Agave success!
DeleteThose hillside Agaves seem to have the same conditions as the last ones you fetured (or am I wrong about that?). Why do you suppose they fared less well?
ReplyDeleteThe conditions are quite similar, but if you click on the link given above
Delete(http://www.thedangergarden.com/2016/10/an-icon-in-decline.html) you can see they were already looking bad heading into winter. I wish I knew why.
I like that last photo the best. Wowza!Poor agavas need a little TLC. The slope with all the plants is dreamy!
ReplyDeleteDreamy indeed.
DeleteThe ovatifolia next to a big green lawn is a real...contrast. I wonder what the story is on the choice of that Agave.
ReplyDeleteAvailability? They were told it was one of the best for our climate? They liked the powder blue color?
DeleteAfter seeing this, I love Agave ovatifolia even more. What a champ!
ReplyDelete