Friday, May 19, 2017

The Agave Report May 2017, back garden

Yesterday we looked at the front garden Agaves, today we move to the back garden — photos from November 2016, interspersed photos from April 2016. Henceforth referred to as "then" and "now". We start with Agave weberi although some might take issue with that name I do believe it to be valid. Then...

And now. It did get moved (through great heroic effort by my husband) into the unheated garage during the worst of it. Those pups you see in the tanks on either side were in the basement for pretty much all of winter. They're now being rehomed to friends and planted out around the garden.

Agave bracteosa then...

And now...

And another, then...which I neglected to take a new photo of, but it is still alive and looking pretty much the same.

Here's one of the areas I refer to as an Agave burial mound, then...

There are so many Agaves crammed in here that I've lost track of what they all are, mostly because I never knew in he first place (still then)...

Now.

Looking closer...this one was bought as Agave 'Baccarat' (then)...

And now...

I believe the big guy is Agave neomexicana, then...

Now.

Pups around it, now...

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Another A. neomexicana (then)...

Now.

I've lost track of the ID on this one, if I ever knew it. It's just as well because it's now DEAD.


A couple more "now" photos from this same area. Agave striata...

And a sweet Opuntia polyacantha that took winter in stride...

This planting is next to the patio stairs, photo "then"...

And now...

All in all not bad, eh?

The worst thing that happened to the large Agave bracteosa (now)...

Is a wound inflected by its neighbor.

These guys all look pretty darn good (now)...

Agave 'Mateo' and an A. striata (then).

Another "then"...

And now.

A. striata (then)

And now — I think I'll be pulling this one, I just haven't gotten around to it it fell over and has since been removed.

I neglected to take an updated photo for this area. Pictured "then" left to right: Agave gentryi 'Jaws', a tiny barely visible A. parryi 'J.C. Raulston' pup as well as a couple of A. gracilipes you can't see at all, Agave striata, and on the far right either A. neomexicana or havardiana. If you were to see it now the A. gentryi 'Jaws' is gone, the A. parryi 'J.C. Raulston' pup is barely hanging on, the A. gracilipes are gone. Thankfully the Agave striata and A. neomexicana or havardiana are fine.

The A. 'Sharkskin' in a container, then. The A. victoriae-reginae on the far left was moved to the shade pavilion greenhouse before winter.

Now — this guy would have spent winter in place, with a cover. But since we could, we moved him into the unheated garage.

Mr. Big (Agave americana 'Variegata'), at the back, as well as the Dyckia, went into the "greenhouse" for winter. The A. ovatifolia wintered in place with cover (then)..

Now...

I am thrilled this guy looks this good. There was a moment, sometime in March I think, when I took his cover off and could see a strange yellow at the base of the leaves. Something I'd never seen before. Naturally I feared the worse, even though the arms felt solid. Turns out it was becasue the leaves (arms) had shrunk from lack of water.

Ha! Not a problem now that its cover has been off for a month.

Agave parryi var. couesii, the metal band is open at the bottom...(then)

And now...

And A. bracteosa, also with an open bottom, then...

And now...

So that concludes my Agave report, for spring 2017. I am both pleased that so many things are still alive, saddened that so many things are scarred, and a little worried about what the future holds. If record rainfall stops, and we have a hot summer, I think everything will be fine. If we have a no-show summer, well...who knows. Do I regret planting any of these? Hell no! I'd do it all again. In fact I've already started planting replacements. Carefully chosen ones of course...danger garden baby!

Weather Diary, May 18: Hi 71, Low 43/ Precip 0

All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

18 comments:

  1. Baccarat! I really have to get mine out of the pot and into the ground. If your weather forecast is anything like ours, there is some heat and sun on the way next week.

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  2. In spite of the casualties, I'm really impressed with how well your agaves have coped with the horrid winter. To make your posts even more useful, could you type up a list of agaves and how they fared?

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    1. I'll put that on my to-do list for next winter! (seriously....great idea...and I will do it, someday)

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  3. The agaves in back seem to have done so much better than the ones out front. Do you think it was the selection in back or the microclimate that made the difference?

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    1. The front garden is much more exposed than the back, so while selection plays a part I'd say it's manly micro-climate.

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  4. Now that the full report is in, I'm surprised so many made it through that winter. Definitely a winter to test the cold hardy types. Enjoy your upcoming heat!

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    1. And maybe even more importantly, the ones more tolerable of wet.

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  5. Overall rather good outcome fortunately! Surprised with the Jaws, and one or two others. As for the Sharkskin, good to hear you loved it indoors. It had a reputation for being reasonably hardy here but nowadays nearly everyone comments how prone it actually is to rot and marking if left out in the winter here. I can add to that as our big one I left out and now it is recovering in the greenhouse, recovering from its big winter wounds...

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    1. Interesting about Sharkskin, and it's one that a friend has growing in a hell-strip here, which actually lived to blooming age!

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  6. Well done! Most of them look great, amazing after all the clouds and rain. Bracteosa seems especially able to stand up to your PNW winter.

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  7. Overall I'm impressed at how many did so well. Agave bracteosa is a clear winner, though (that is, if it were a competition). I still need to decide where exactly to put mine...

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  8. Beautiful Loree. I'd love to see your in place covers too - I think perhaps you posted previously some time ago ?? maybe? not sure if there's been a current post.

    Loving some of these vignettes :) so inspiring.

    Oh - did you put extra drainage in your stock tanks? And do you fit them completely with soil? I'm redoing the three I have on the roof deck and trying to figure out what I want to do - considering putting on wheels but haven't come up with anything I am too stoked about without being or knowing a welder - plus worried about the base having enough support
    they've been empty since last year and with just the one side hole it appears water will sit in the lower 2" or so - I guess if there is soil in there it will be ok - ?
    any thoughts welcome -

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  9. The last two posts were a remarkably detailed recored keeping. Very impressive. All and all, the back garden seems to have faired better then the front, maybe plants had more protection. The sharkskin agave is beautiful and truly resembles sharkskin!

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  10. Not a bad survival rate for such a horrible winter! As always, your garden was even more wonderful in person on Saturday! Thanks for the tour!

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  11. The nice thing about more than one, such as Agave neomexicana, is some are fine to make up for others. I still remember the potted A. striata I once had, until E winds at 50 for a day or two bent every leaf like a straw. Really impressive all that made it for you - thanks for the report from Agave Central X NW.

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  12. I'd say your survival rate was pretty outstanding considering what we went through this winter! Your 'Baccarat' fared much better than mine as did your parryi var couseii. The latter was dry and outside under cover but developed a terrible mealy bug infestation.
    Don't get me started on those mealies... .

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