Agave In The Garden

A Palmer's Agave begins to push up its flower stalk in my garden, illuminated by the low autumn sun while the rocks behind are shaded by the dense... more

by Douglas Taylor

Title

Agave In The Garden

Artist

Douglas Taylor

Medium

Photograph - Fine Art Digital Photography

Description

A Palmer's Agave begins to push up its flower stalk in my garden, illuminated by the low autumn sun while the rocks behind are shaded by the dense canopy of a nearby mesquite tree outside of Tucson, Arizona

This act is the beginning of the end for the plant, for it has spent years building up a sugary heart prior to growing this massive stalk. Once it flowers it will die, but the growth of an agave flower stalk is amazing to witness. One day it will begin to rise from the center of the plant, and its growth can literally be watched as it may grow up to 12 inches in a day. Yes, it quite resembles an asparagus spear, and in fact the agave species are part of the Asparagaceae botanical family.

The Agave palmeri is the largest native Agave species growing in the United States. It produces a basal leaf rosette of fleshy, upright green leaves of up to 4 feet (120 centimeters) in length, with jagged edges and ending in sharp, thick spines of 2 to 3 inches (4-7 cm) long. The stalk can grow to over 22 feet (7 meters) tall, and at the top is display of pale yellow flowers on branches along the upper reaches of this amazing feature.

The plant is native to southern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, plus Sonora and Chihuahua in Mexico. It is common in the Chihuahuan Desert and rare in the eastern edge of the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. The plant was used extensively by Native Americans for food, drink, fiber, soap, medicine and to make lances with.

Uploaded

November 15th, 2023