Merry Christmas!

Just in the St. Nick of time......A post to wish all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Joyous and Prosperous New Year!!!!

I love to see traditions from around the country and around the world, so  I thought I'd show you all a tradition of mine that stems from living in Tucson.  Every year around late September, the Agave plants in the desert send up large spikes that signal the end of the plants life.  An agave can live 20 years or longer before sending up it's final bloom, sometimes up to 25' high.  It is a true swan song, as the agave dies after such a beautiful output, and will only bloom just the once.

A beautiful example of an agave newly in bloom.

 The agave stalk will eventually dry out in our arid climate, turning from a beautiful bright green to a woody, brown and extremely durable 'branch.' By late October they are usually ready to harvest. 

Here is a great example of a fresh bloom
and a dried one side by side.

A completely dry stalk.

Once dry, the agave stalks lend themselves to many ornamental uses.  One such use is as a Christmas tree!  So without further ado, here is MY Agave Stalk Christmas Tree!

 

Merry Christmas!!