There may be snow on the ground at the farm, but there are still things blooming! Of course, that would be in the warm and toasty greenhouses. Here's a little lesson about the century plant.
1 Ryan has been nurturing these century plants for a couple of years now. They were baby pups, if you will, taken from a much larger plant. They are growing very nicely in the greenhouse.
2 Ryan told us that the mature century plants are blooming in the tropical greenhouse, so we hopped in the Kawasaki and drove down to have ourselves a look.
3 Franny, did you know that the misnamed century plant typically lives only 10 to 30 years? This one has an enormous flower stalk! You have to be careful because the leaves have heavy spikes at the tips that can pierce to the bone!
4 The stalk is topped with a cyme of big yellow flowers that may reach up to 26-feet in height! The leaves also have strong fibers that have been made into rope, coarse cloth, and even used for embroidery.
5 Ryan said that there was another blooming century plant near this fig tree. Quite sadly, once a century plant blooms, it dies.
6 Ah yes, there's the giant stalk.
7 The century plant is in the agave family, like this giant specimen here. Franny, did you know that the blue agave is the source of the potent distilled spirit known as tequila?
8 Look at the many varieties of agave we have here in the tropical greenhouse. Tomorrow, let's visit Ryan in the main greenhouse because he told me he was going to repot some of the smaller agaves he keeps there.
From: Rebel | 1/8/13 at 10:39 am
Good morning ladies,
Do you think that you have enough Agave to brew up some tequila? That is very interesting that the plant dies after blooming, but after all the energy it puts out to make that huge stalk, well I guess it would out of gas so to speak....
Not much going on here, I'm looking at a quiet day. So, til tomorrow,
Rebel
From: Kirby Bear | 1/8/13 at 10:49 am
Hello ladies, Kirby here.
As almost everyone knows I’m not into plants, but today I see one that looks great. I think it was the statement about the tequila that got my attention. Hehehehe No, I don’t drink but I didn’t know where it came from; now I know. That’s what is so good about your blogg. One can learn so much. I’ll put that in my brain compartment under “bits and pieces of useful information.” You would be surprised at how much information I have stored in another spot in my brain. I call it “bits and pieces of useless information.” In fact, I have to be careful that I don’t overload that section of my brain. Hehehehe
Catch you later, Kirby.
From: Jan Erickson | 1/8/13 at 11:10 am
Hi F,S,&GK+ Glue Squad, How unusual to not see any of our buddies comments this morning! Maybe you all awoke a bit late! Sharkey, you must have had these great photos taken before you hurt your paw and wore the head cover that we saw yesterday! I love seeing these century plants in the greenhouse that Ryan takes such good care of! It must be fun to go in the greenhouses when it's snowy at the farm! Hope you sweet girls and handsome GK are having a great day! I sure hope all of you Glue Squaders are doing well today! I want to send extra prayers to Rebel, Kirby, Ruby, Zoe, Roxy, and Sonya who had to visit a vet or have been sick or hurt somehow! Hope all you buddies are doing well! Love, Dudley Do Right XOXOXO+
From: delia | 1/8/13 at 11:36 am
How cool! Wish I had a greenhouse, then Kitty would always be in there...right now she sleeps under the ferns in the house making her feel like she is outdoors in this cold wintery weather. Oh yes, Agave makes tequila and sweetener...both are natural, right? so we can have lots of it, I'm with rebel
I have some plants that are over 40 years old and have come with us from one state to the other.
So everyone have a good Tuesday, for us it's Garbage day...wooohooow!
delia & Kitty =^. .^=
From: Maddox | 1/8/13 at 12:13 pm
Hello everyone,
A couple things came into my mind. It is a shame that when the plant finally blooms, it dies. I don't like that. People probably wait for it to bloom cause it looks awesome but then it is curtains for the plant. Weird. Another thing, I see Sharkey, you are not wearing your collar. Is your foot better or are you just taking a little break from the collar for a few hours?
I have to go. We are going somewhere today but I will be back later to read what I missed on yesterday's blog and to see what is going on today
Love to all,
Maddox
From: ABBY | 1/8/13 at 12:23 pm
Hello Francesca, Sharkey, maddox, Ruby Tuesday girl and all my glue squad buddies,
Mom is soooo sorry that Sharkey hurt her little paw. That must have really hurt bad. We send you lots of hugs Sharkey girl. Maybe some rest in a warmer climate would help you out. Today's temp. is already 48 so we hope you frenchies are enjoying spring like weather at least.
Tequila caught our eye too Kirby. Woke me up from a nap on my gran papa's lap. I woke up yesterday long enough to bark at all the dogs at work. Mom saw heart shaped toys at petsmart yesterday so Valentines day is coming up.
Rebel, are you chasing ducks? Maddox, did you have a good trip? Where is Ruby Tuesday?
Back to catch a snooze and dream of spring. Bet Cora belle is having fun with the shepherds.
Woofs and hugs- Abby the newly washed pug/peke/frenchie
From: Ruby | 1/8/13 at 12:41 pm
Hello Girls & Glue Squad Buddies,
Your greeenhouse looks fantastic. Like out of a fairy tale. We have a little greenhouse that Mom grows lots of orchids in and has many plants as old as their marriage--37 years almost. It is a small greenhouse, as I can walk in and can hardly turn around to come out. Your's looks like a palace girls. Those agave are great. Tequila is Dad's fav and Mom and I love the Agave for baking. What's on everyone's agenda for today. Mom is sure fired up now that she is feeling better. We just played ball outside. Weather to be in upper 50's until Friday, then 20's and SNOOOOOOOOW!!! Yahoo and double yahoo. Snow for the big Bronco playoff game Saturday. Those guys will be cold for sure. Have a GEM of a day all.
Love & licks,
Ruby
From: Sonya | 1/8/13 at 2:13 pm
So is MommyM thinking about a new Tequila line hmmm...? Thanks for the well wishes. Working on feeling better. I hope everyone is feeling better and doing just fine! Sharkey I hope your little paw is feeling better. Ruby Gem, tell your Mom I'm glad she's fiery again, that means she's on the mends!
From: gail pieson | 1/8/13 at 3:45 pm
Aw, I love the lessons I learn on the Daily Way! Even though I do not have a green thumb, I certainly do enjoy learning!
Stay back from that huge plant Sharkey! We don't want another mishap!
gail
From: Molly and Jake Licknbounce | 1/8/13 at 5:02 pm
Hello everyone, We are Molly and Jake Licknbounce. We are Boxers that live in sunny San Diego. We have often read your comments and decided today to send our best wishes out to all of you for the new year. Since we live in California we often see the Agave plants when we are out exploring. We are very lucky it doesn't get too cold here because as Boxers we don't have all the fur some of you have and we'd have to wear a coat at Martha's. Martha, we are up for a visit if you'd like to send an invitation to two lively Boxers! (We try to live up to our last name, our Mom says we do an exceptional job at it.) So again Hello to all ofyou and we look forward to making friends with you all!
Molly and Jake.
From: Cora-Belle, the cattledog | 1/8/13 at 9:07 pm
..first off..hello to Molly and Jake Licknbounce..you sound like a fun duo!..Lucinda says when she lived Az,.she saw century plants..this was long before I came into her life..wonder how she managed without me?..hope everybody (people and doggie pals) are doing better today...must go get a snack and snuggle down in front of the pellet stove..over and out, Love, Cora-Belle