How to Watch AGAVE Bloom - photos

Watching an AGAVE bloom and flower can take forever. It took about 10 years to get the Agave to the flowering stage as shown in the picture steps. The Agave nickname is the CENTURY plant - because it takes 10 years to mature.

Prominent in Arizona, it is a great addition to Xeriscape yards. Saving a valuable resource - water. The Agave is also the source for making tequila a popular southwestern alcohol.

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Instructions

- 1
  
  Plant your Agave or Century plant. Do not plant near your sidewalks or other pathways. These plants get large. Do not plant in the shade if you want to see blooms or flowers in your lifetime.
- 2
  
  Watch in March you will see the center spike growing. WE have two growing spikes now. After flowering the plant will die, however, some report that by cutting off the spike the flower will sometimes bloom again.
- 3
  
  The plant will start blooming in early April. Be careful as the bees will begin pollinating and there may be a lot of activity around the AGAVE spike. See resource list below for bee sting first aid. Keep baking soda, Benedryl and Tylenol on hand. Having an Epi-Pen in your first aid kit is not over-reactionary.
- 4
  
  Last watch as the flower opens up the spike. This is a macro shot of the flower and they are very pretty. Get out your camera and take some full bloom pictures. Soon those flowers will fall off. Get out your leaf blower, or wait for the next spring storm to whisk away the blooms.
- 5
  Now send in your pictures to a great photo contest and have some fun while you wait for the next years spike, flowers and full bloom.

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