Last Chapter

The American agave’s last stand
01-08-13, agave century bloom 02 spire is cut down. San Diego, Ca. Photos by Anders Tomlinson.
December 2012 had been a cool wet month. An arctic cold front with high
winds is in the forecast for the coming days. The century plant bloom
had been drying out for months, all the water stored in the spire surely
must be gone. The tall spire was now a danger if it were to fall by
itself on the house, a parked car, the driveway or a passerby on the
sidewalk. It has become time to cut down the spire, hopefully with
no unintended consequences.

Today is the day to cut the century plant bloom.01-08-13, agave century bloom spire is cut down. San Diego, Ca. Photos by Anders Tomlinson.
“C’ day has arrived. All amazing things do come to an end. Jeremy Brogan,
who lives a couple of houses down the street, came over to help me with
the cutting. I wanted to document the event and give human scale to the bloom.

The plan was to cut into thirds.
01-08-13, agave century bloom spire is cut down. San Diego, Ca. Photos by Anders Tomlinson.
With simple tools, a pole saw and ladder, the goal was to fall the bloom
in sections and minimize unintended consequences.

Safety First.
01-08-13, agave century plant is cut down, san diego, ca. photos by anders tomlinson.
The top section was cut from the roof and fell into the liquid amber tree.
No damage done. The second section cuts started on the roof and finished off
from the ground. After repeated sawing, a push brought the section to earth.

A Time for Measurement.
01-08-13, agave century plant is cut down in sections, san diego, ca. photos by anders tomlinson.
The agave century spire stood 32 feet 3 inches tall. The spire’s girth at its
base was 32 inches. Nature is all about change, The century spire was
all about continuation by distributing – broadcasting its seed.

1-15-13, More to cut and cut and cut.
Cutting continues on agave century plant after bloom, san diego, ca. 1-15-13. photos by anders tomlinson.
Work begins on removing the bottom of the agave plant.
My 12 inch handsaw cuts through the spire with relative ease.

The spire has left the room.
Cutting continues on agave century plant after bloom, san diego, ca. 1-15-13. photos by anders tomlinson.
Was the falling of the agave felt in China or sensed in Australia?

Up-close and analyzing.
Cutting continues on agave century plant after bloom, san diego, ca. 1-15-13. photos by anders tomlinson.
The white center core is light-weight, reminds one of a sponge.

Have some agave cake, great with tequila.
removing agave stump, 01-17-13, san diego, ca. photo by anders tomlinson.
Removing the agave stump has begun. Everyday about four inches will be
removed by cutting from the top with two cuts four sections that will then be
removed with side cuts. One quarter at a time.

1-17-13, A view from the street.
removing agave stump, 01-17-13, san diego, ca. photo by anders tomlinson.
Compare this with the photo below, the first photo posted in this story.

5-12-12, Big drama in the front yard.
Start to a blooming century plant in the front yard. Photo by Anders Tomlinson.
This large cactus, Agave Americana, also known as the century plant,
maguey or American aloe, is starting to bloom. April 12, 2012 and we are there.
I look forward to documenting the entire process. Visitors welcomed.

And this was the top
top section to the century plant, san diego, ca, 1-15-13. photo by anders tomlinson.
As the century plant bloomed it was all about threes.
Three begat three begat three.

It was all about the seeds
Dried seed pods for amercian agave, san diego, ca. 01-15-13. photo by anders tomlinson.
From these pods came the seeds that by wind, birds and insects
promised a next generation.

And then the seeds pods were gone
stems without seed pods, american agave century plant bloom, san diego, ca. 01-15-13. photo by anders tomlinson.
End of the road for the century plant. The seed pods have broken off.
Imagine the number of seed pods that were the century plant bloom.

1-19-13, anatomy of an American agave
Cross section of american agave stump, 01-20-13, san diego, ca. photos by anders tomlinson.
Cross section of leave pattern on the stump’s south-side.

1-24-13, removing the agave trunk continues
Agave century plant being cut down, 01-22-13 san diego, ca. photo by anders tomlinson.
Two dimensions of a cross-cut through the trunk. The base of cut
leaves-spears reminds me of a giant mushroom.

A closer look at the inner structure

I wonder how people of an older day used, if they did, the materials that
are part of the century plant.

Saw one and two and three and saw two and two and three and
Agave century plant being cut down, 01-22-13 san diego, ca. photo by anders tomlinson.
The golden reflective colors are heavenly against the white core.

Elements of the removal process
Agave century plant being cut down, 01-22-13 san diego, ca. photo by anders tomlinson.
A pile of cut agave fins await disposal.

Three sections from different cuts and angles
Agave century plant being cut down, 01-22-123 san diego, ca. photo by anders tomlinson.
Agave pastry all in a row.

1-28-13, getting down to the ground
agave century plant bloom cut down 01-28-13, san diego, ca. photo by anders tomlinson.
Slowly the agave is being removed.

10 inches in diameter, years in growth and survival
agave century plant bloom cut down 01-28-13, san diego, ca. photo by anders tomlinson.
Cutting through the trimmed agave spears is starting to hit black rot.
I found what i think was a newt and numerous spider nests.
It is a dark world inside at the base of the agave.

3-13-13, almost gone from sight
Agave century plant being cut down to the ground, san diego, ca. 03-13-13. photo by Anders Tomlinson
There is now little left but the emerging shoots
that surrounded the main trunk.

From the old comes the new
Agave century plant being cut down to the ground, san diego, ca. 03-13-13. photo by Anders Tomlinson
Oh what a tangle the agave grows to ensure its
presence in days to come.

Up close and personal with the end
Agave century plant being cut down to the ground, san diego, ca. 03-13-13. photo by Anders Tomlinson
How long will these continue to grow from the trunk?

One spear could become another century plant
Agave century plant being cut down to the ground, san diego, ca. 03-13-13. photo by Anders Tomlinson
This agave century plant was all about energy.

The above ground trunk is gone
Agave century plant being cut down to the ground, san diego, ca. 03-13-13. photo by Anders Tomlinson
The last cuts were some of the hardest.

Change has come to where the agave once stood
Agave century plant being cut down to the ground, san diego, ca. 03-13-13. photo by Anders Tomlinson
A garden of geraniums will replace the agave century plant forest.
More color bowls will join this one. The plants will drink captured water
from the kitchen and bathroom. Goodbye old agave century plant.
You were a good neighbor to all who knew you. You grew over the years,
bloomed and died with a glorious last hurrah.

Back to A Time to Decay.
Back to Century Plant.

©2012 Anders Tomlinson, all rights reserved.