Friday, February 12, 2021

Attitude of Gratitude (for agaves?)

Following an agave tip from an Instagram friend, I ended up in Inner SE Portland on a sunny Sunday in early December. I parked, looked up, and noticed signs of a roof-top garden...that's the building I was here to see! Although sadly I wouldn't be venturing up to the roof-top.

This is where I was headed, I'd known of this huge mural, but the fact there were agaves at its base had escaped me.

Agaves! (and a lot of conifers)

I am really pleasantly surprised by this planting...and how good it looks considering its location.

Which agave is this? I'm not sure.

Ditto for this one.


I found a nice write-up about the mural and the building in general here—it's where the title of the post came from, since it mentions the woman depicted in the mural is in a pose of gratitude. The article dates to May of 2018, so conceivably that's when the plantings went in-(ish).


Here's a good image to see the depth of the plants that make up her hair.

Back on the ground, Ceanothus 'Dark Star'...

And more agaves!

So many agaves! Frankly I am surprised how many they planted in such a small space.

Sadly also some foliage damage—which to be expected in an urban setting along a sidewalk.


Things were disserted here the day I visited, I suppose that should be chalked up to the fact it was a chilly Sunday, and COVID had the street-side restaurants closed. Plus this is a sort of "pass though" spot in Inner SE Portland. Not fully residential, not fully business...

Agave 'Sharkskin'

So many!

And all looking really good considering the narrow space they were crammed into...


One of these things is not like the others—that's an unhappy ceanothus...

Palomar; a "trendy hangout with a Cuban vibe offering sharing plates with daiquiris & other tropical cocktails"... not today though.

Help! I'm drowning!


Who knew? This development is hot-spot for agave plantings!

Hopefully, once COVID eases its grip on us, things will start to open up a bit and this space will have more life to it, and the agaves will be more cared for—which sadly includes removing these before they get any bigger and someone hacks them back unceremoniously...

Peeking in the glass door I spotted a nice indoor green wall.

And then it was time to head back home...

Weather Diary, Feb 12: Hi 40, Low 28/ Precip .06 

All material © 2009-2021 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

17 comments:

  1. Hmmm, daiquiris and shared plates. Sounds good. An interesting installation. Didn't realize at first the painting's hair were real plants. Very cool. Surprised they would put agaves in the narrow beds along the stores since they will harpoon passers-by.

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    1. Ya those sidewalk hugging agaves are an interesting choice for sure!

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  2. The mural is fantastic, and I admire the "living" hair and hat. Would love to know how they keep it well watered.

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    1. I'm wondering how it looks now after more than 24hrs below freezing with wind and ice and snow...

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  3. So many Agaves indeed!

    The Agave 'sharkskin' look really good. I am surprised that no-one has tried to pinch them though.

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    1. Ya, me too. Although maybe they figure the pain isn't worth it?

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  4. We've seen that beautiful mural from a distance, nice to see it through your lens. And yes, very surprising to have so many agaves. I wonder how many legs have been attacked....

    But it's nice to see and effective, strangely enough, with the conifers. Also really cool hairdo.

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    1. I wondered what that open area is used for in "normal times", maybe there are tables out there? Fun space...

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  5. That's a nice agave collection! I was surprised that the woman's hair was created from plants and would love to know what plants they used and how they maintain them. I appreciate public art pieces like this and wish we had more of those here (and fewer billboard ads).

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    1. I wasn't a fan of this particular installation until I visited in person.

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  6. Wow! Her hair is extraordinary! It will be interesting if it can manage to survive the frigid temps. A lot of the agaves will also have a hard time if the lows you are expecting happen. Thinking of all of you during this brutal cold snap.

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    1. Thanks Sheila, it's pretty intense out there, lots of ice and people without power.

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  7. I like that you have a network of folks sending in tips. Perhaps the damaged agave in front of the green tile is a variety of Agave colorata? I've seen dusky gray versions as well as green versions like the ones in your pictures. anyway - stunning against that green tile background not because the plant pops but because it blends into the background.

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    1. I can definitely see why you would say Agave colorata, but these are so much greener than the A. colorata I've seen, not that there aren't variations on the theme.

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  8. I didn't realize until you pointed it out that the mural's hair was plants - that is pretty cool... I wonder how they get watered? I love the red teeth on the second agave - blood-warning!

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  9. Oh, that is so fun. I love rooftop gardens, and one with a mural that includes plants for the hair...so creative! It reminds me of some of the gardens we saw during the Toronto Fling.

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