Summer Stalk
Howdy!
Well, how do you do? It’s been a couple of intense weeks at the Rancho. We’ve endured heavy reno construction, our car was stolen, and full-tilt midsummer discombobulation hit hard. Happily, the reno job’s complete (looks awesome!), the insurance has paid out on our former car (better than we’d hoped!) and tonight I begin a week-long vacation (just a week, but woo-hoo!) … And to add to the celebratory atmosphere, one of my most-prized blue agaves is sending out a “let’s party!” message of its own. We first noticed something was up last Sunday, but at that time I wasn’t sure what I was seeing was an incipient stalk; I thought maybe it was the beginning of a flower of some sort (I’ve never seen this variety of agave with a stalk before). Then, yesterday, while running Frito and Inky through their pre-dawn paces, I caught sight of this already foot-long marvel! I can’t say I’m totally surprised by this display, since this particular agave has always been a showoff. First, it managed to stack tier-after-tier of spiky blue rosettes until it seemed on the verge of teetering at over a foot tall, and now this sudden beanstalk turn.
Concentric beauty
At over 2-feet tall, not including the pot it resides in, I can’t wait to see what this agave does next … Now, my vacation: with the clatter over and the dust settled, I’ll be putting things back where they belong (or trying something new?), and tackling some new landscaping projects (think rocks, rocks, rocks). Plus, with wheels of our own again, we plan on taking a day trip to Joshua Tree. Also, more clutter-clearing in the new two-car studio (anyone need a collection of thrift store paintings?) and maybe some painting of my own (on the new shed we had built) … Oh, yeah, and posting more (so many drafts, so little time!) … Not on the agenda: sleep. But, I can do that later, right? … So, thank God it’s Friday and let’s get to quittin’ time … I will be raising a toast to your weekend — and my vacay — with a glass of chilled something as soon as humanly possible …
Rancho Reubidoux 
I have been missing your posts! Hope you have a great little bit of time off!
Cheers,
Ginny
Thanks, Ginny… see you soon!
Love these agaves. But there might be hope for me yet — we walked past a yard in Toronto yesterday that had two little prickly pear cacti growing. So they do grow here! Now to find one.
Hey, Dave, I’d love to send you a succulent care package, email me at my private addy and I’ll send some up!
It’s a beauty! What type of agave is it? And how big is the pot it’s growing in? Curious b/c most of my agaves are destined to life in a container and it’s always exciting when I see one blooming.
Happy vaca…play hard!
Hi, Loree, here’s what my research shows. The agave is Agave Potatorum cv. Kichijokan, the pot is 24″ in diameter and 18″ tall… I’ve never seen this type bloom before so I feel really lucky!
I was wondering where you went. Sounds like a crazy couple of weeks. The agave is amazing. Keep us updated as it gets bigger.
Will do… nice to be back!