Algarvean Daze

Evening Agaveman.

These latest pictures were taken on the day posted, 22 February. We supposedly have had our driest winter for 91 years, so I've been told, but it has been dry until the past couple of weeks when the heavens remembered where we were.

I said A attenuata 'Nerva' as that is what is listed here for being here from the various books I have purchased here ... and it looks like it to me. You have to take into account that the photographs may not be perfect in colour, especially with me taking pics as this is new to me within the past year.

 

Hi LOL,

I'll do an internet search for Nerva to see what I can find out.

Interesting about your dry spell. With your recent down pour the mystery yellow / green agave should recover its colour if that's the cause of it. However I'm still searching my books and internet to see if I can find anything remotely close so watch this space.

 

Okay,

Here's 'Nerva'



And here's 'Nova'


They look like the same variety to me.

 

Hi there! Looks the same to me as well, only slight colour difference with the 'Nova' being a wee bit bluer ... but is that the photographs?

In your searches, did you find both a 'Nerva' and a 'Nova'? Novo/a means new in Portuguese ... I wonder if Nerva is the same in Spanish?

What is your avatar?

 

Hi LOL,

I did find a few 'Nervas' and plenty of 'Novas'. All look like the same variety to me and your explanation as to the colour is possible. Also the colour in some agaves is highly variable within the same species and variety.

I'd be interested to find out if your theory with the language is right. It sounds highly plausable.

The avatar is an adult a.harvardiana of which I have just propagated about 30 plants. It's frost hardy to -18C and occurs in the mexican mountains at heights 4000 & 7000ft so it's a tough one.


I'm going to bring a couple on and am going to create a raised bed here.



That's the plot anyhow.

 

I now don't think it's Spanish, possibly Latin but the only thing I can find is "nerves" or "veins".

Will that Palm (is it a shaggy Washy?) go for the Agaves? Don't look like a lot of space there to me for such once they develop. :confused:

 

Just to add my thoughts Steve, you've sure got a lot of agaves coming on there.
Do you mind if I ask how you come by the seed, (I've not sown the seed you sent me yet, waiting for warmer days and stronger light).

Your gonna need more space :D

looks like a trachy to me LoL.

 

The Palm's a Trachy. About 11 years old and one of the first palms I ever propagated.

You're right about the space thing though. Maybe a rethink required although agaves are slow growing and the trachy will be out of sight by then.

Maybe I'll convert one of the borders instead.

 

Pete,

Nearly all my agave and yucca seeds are imported. When you import you end up buying in bulk due to minimum order quantities ($100)so I've always got spare seeds kicking around.

The benefits of buying this way are that the seed is in my experience more viable than the small quantities you can buy in garden centres or off of eBay. A lot of this is junk that is nigh on impossible to germinate and pricey to boot. Also I can get varities and species you simply cannot buy any other way. Those that are available in the UK as plants of the more unusual types command serious money especially for larger specimens. For example, I've seen year old plants of some species going for �£30 plus.

When the a.harvardiana's are a year old I'll offer a few here free, keep a few and eBay the rest. Shortly I'm going to do the same with this years surplus seed as well.

However, if any fellow plant enthusiasts want a few to try out I'm willing to let some go (within reason) just PM me your address and let me know if you have any preference species wise.

 

I would agree with what your saying about small quatities bought from the usual seed companies.
I stopped buying palm seed for instance, as I found it almost impossible to germinate, yet palm seed brought back from holidays, no problem.

Nice to see a seed that you grew,(like your trachy) grow on to become a real tree aint it?

 

Pete,

That's what floats my boat with gardening. I enjoy propagating from seed or cuttings and watching the plants develop over time.

The seeds for the trachy came from California but unfortunately that particular seed merchant went bust.

It might be an idea if a few of us want any palm or exotic seeds to club together and buy fresh seed wholesale and split the cost.

 

I too like to grow from seed where possible, unfortnately as you get older you start to wonder if you will see some of them reach maturity. :D

Thats a good idea, (about a collective order), I personally would struggle to accomadate much more at the moment, although I must admit some of the more recent species of trachy that have been talked about do look interesting.

Sorry LoL, stealing your thread.

 

Hey, guy, no probs ... this thread is all about these type of things. I have realised that plantlife on the coastline is so different to the mountains.

That's why I started this thread, moving it away from Country Life which to me is the mountain scene I love so much.

So ... feel free to discuss these types of plants and I will contribute, if I can ... cough, cough!

 

I will bring back what I can in the seed line when I go away a later in the year only this time I will look for Agaves as well as others although I am not sure how accessable Agave seed will be, I have tooooo many palms already (so I am told). :rolleyes:
My Dyckia seed germination was not very good anyone else tried them?

 

Never tried them strongy.