Today's post is a three-parter, first up, the tortured palms. I spotted them in parking lot on the way to the Oregon Coast, I can't remember exactly where it was, but we pulled off to get gas and my mouth dropped open...
What exactly were they hoping to accomplish with the plastic wrap?
There's no insulating factor, what with a single layer of plastic and huge gaps. So it wasn't winter protection—or at least good winter protection. Were they trying to keep the trunks dry? But why?
Honestly it looked like some weight-loss scheme you would have seen on a 70's sitcom like Laverne & Shirley, wrap yourself in plastic and lose 5 pounds overnight!
Next topic; bamboo. When I visited the Wonder Garden in Manzanita, OR, I also wandered next door to check out the landscaping at the Coast Cabins.
The third and final part of this post—the mushy agave, an Agave parrasana 'Globe'.
This plant is (was) in my garden, where looked fantastic all winter—until suddenly it didn't. I grabbed the container intending to change out the plant for something less tragic, and that's when I spotted...
... a speared slug! How perfect. Gruesome, yes. But perfect.
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I've had four agaves develop crown rot this winter, probably a result of the rains in October. Three have healed themselves and are pushing new growth from the center. One (an ovatifolia x parrasana hybrid) turned to mush. As much as I'd like to see a pattern, I tend to think it's somewhat random.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a bad year for agaves up in these parts, I have heard many stories of mushy agaves...
DeletePoor agave! I have to wonder how the slug got itself speared...As to the plastic-wrapped palms, I wonder if they're trying to address a rat problem?
ReplyDeleteA rat problem, there's an idea! I wonder.
DeleteThe bamboos are just stunning. They make up for everything else.
ReplyDeleteRight? It was a beautiful and serene planting.
DeleteThe Laverne & Shirley comment cracked me up... I remember that episode and totally showing my age in the process. Although not a fan of marshmallow, the bamboo forrest is magnificent, the black bamboo in particular! Slug aside, I think your Agave parrasana is still beautiful while decaying,
ReplyDeleteThe agave did have a certain beauty to it, I have to agree. Maybe that's why I left it in place for so long even though there was no chance it was going to recover.
DeleteHahaha I am laughing at the unexpected ending to your post! Hahaha poor slug! And I agree with the person wondering how that happened. One idea is a crow lost a snack as it took flight and the slug thought for a second he was home free and then…your agave. 😣
ReplyDeleteOh! Poor slug. I wonder if he wasn't just sliming along when suddenly... ouch!
DeleteI say that is cosmic justice for that slug! Yeah, this cold, wet spring has been tough on my agaves and cacti. I love that bamboo grove. Always so serene to wander through there (also was not a hotel customer!)
ReplyDelete