Yellow on Blue

7-15-12, The pods have started to open.
Agave century plant pods are opening, 7-15-12, san diego, ca. Photo by Anders Tomlinson
We now know what form the bloom will take.

Life on Planet Earth travel along mysterious routes.
Details of agave century plant pods are opening, 7-15-12, san diego, ca. Photo by Anders Tomlinson
We should celebrate another flora fulfilling destiny coded within its seed.

Reaching up and out from the top.
closeup blooms agave century plant, 7-17-12, san diego, ca. Photo by Anders Tomlinson.
Bees and birds are now circling the agave century plant top.

There will be thousands of these calling for attention.
closeup of blooms, agave century plant, 7-17-12, san diego, ca. Photo by Anders Tomlinson.
These “flowers” are the agave century plant’s preparation for a future.
Its journey of some 20 years is coming to a climatic close.

7-20-12,extravagant efficiency in the neighborhood.
Humming bird and bees visit agave century plant bloom, 7-19-12, san diego, ca. Photos by Anders Tomlinson
Bloom and they will come, and so it is.

Mexican Orioles are frequent visitors.
Mexican Orioles visit agave century plant bloom, 7-19-12, san diego, ca. Photos by Anders Tomlinson
Throughout the day there is a good chance you will see one, two,
or three orioles hopping from bloom to bloom.

Morning and afternoon visitors-workers hover and feed.
Humming bird visits agave century plant bloom, 7-19-12, san diego, ca. Photos by Anders Tomlinson
The first birds I observed being attracted by the agave blooms
were a variety of colorful hummingbirds.

Is this a female Mexican Oriole?
Mexican Orioles visit agave century plant bloom, 7-19-12, san diego, ca. Photos by Anders Tomlinson
Often there are two birds together in the agave blooms that I assume are
male and female Mexican Orioles. Knowing that in the bird world the male
is often the showy-colorful bird then this is probably the female.

Bees, bees, busy bees everywhere.
Bees visit agave century plant blooms, 7-19-12, san diego, ca. Photos by Anders Tomlinson
Thy were the first to feed on the blooms followed by birds.
They are at work all day long, swarming, landing, moving on.

So much to see, so much to do.
Oriole sitting in agave century plant bloom, 7-19-12, san diego, ca. Photos by Anders Tomlinson
It is mardi-gras time agave style in the front yard.

7-22-12, big crows have come to perch.
Crow sitting in agave blooms, 07-22-12, agave century plant, san diego, ca. Photo by Anders Tomlinson.
High up in the century plant the crow looks out on
all that be can seen and eaten.

Hummingbirds have much to do.
Hummingbird hovers, 07-22-12, blooming agave century plant, san diego, ca. Photo by Anders Tomlinson.
It is not unusual to see three hovering hummingbirds.

Feeding time at the urban oasis.
Hummingbird feeds, 07-22-12, blooming agave century plant, san diego, ca. Photo by Anders Tomlinson.
The ground is covered with pollen and pods.

Foraging bees come and go.
Bee in the bloom, 07-22-12, blooming agave century plant, san diego, ca. Photo by Anders Tomlinson.
Bees are everywhere in the yard. The tall agave blooming century plant
attracts a parade of birds, bees, flies, butterflies, ants and others.

Come one, come all, there is plenty to share.
Bees on the bloom, 07-22-12, blooming agave century plant, san diego, ca. Photo by Anders Tomlinson.
I am seeing birds in places I haven’t seen birds before.
The agave blooming is a flora-fauna celebration.

What is a party without flies?Fly on pod, 07-22-12, blooming agave century plant, san diego, ca. Photo by Anders Tomlinson.
Flies are on the fallen pods and agave leaves stained with
a topping of gooey pollen and bird droppings.

Agave leaves are starting to droop and wrinkle.
Agave leaves are changing, 07-22-12, blooming agave century plant, san diego, ca. Photo by Anders Tomlinson.
Over the last couple of days the agave leaves-spears have started to
bend downwards as if they are losing their strength. At the trunk of the
plant the leaves are also becoming wrinkled and losing their width.
Signs of the plant dying are now evident.

7-29-12, August comes for the American agave.
American Agave Century plant in bloom, leaves drooping, 8-1-12, San Diego, CA. Photo by Anders Tomlinson.
For twenty-some years the leaves reached forward upwards seemingly
powered by inner strength and determination through drought and flood.

Time has come for the leaves to touch the ground.
Agave Century plant in bloom, leaves drooping, 8-1-12, San Diego, CA. Photo by Anders Tomlinson.
The dominant agave finds a leaf being supported by an up-and-coming agave.

8-1-12, The very top is now in bloom.
Agave Century plant in bloom, crown in bloom, 8-1-12, San Diego, CA. Photo by Anders Tomlinson.
At last, the crown has gone to bloom. A final chapter has begun.

The last hurrah, or is it?
Agave Century plant in bloom, bees and crown in bloom, 8-1-12, San Diego, CA. Photo by Anders Tomlinson.
It was interesting to watch this agave bloom.
I noticed that the spire shot up and the branches began in a way that the
blooms would be higher than surrounding trees and house.
Was the agave aware and sensitive of its surroundings?

A busy time at the top.
Agave Century plant in bloom, bes and crown in bloom, 8-3-12, San Diego, CA. Photo by Anders Tomlinson.
Now is the time to visit the agave. Tomorrow is another day.

Humming birds and bees in sync with the agave’s design.
Agave Century plant in bloom, humming bird with bees and crown in bloom, 8-3-12, San Diego, CA. Photo by Anders Tomlinson.
While videotaping the feeding action with long lens I noticed
aggressive bees going after birds, especially humming birds.

Forward to A Time to Decay.
Back to A Time to Grow.

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