Flower Friday. : : Flowering BLue Agave

This is the view from our kitchen window. They are often called century plants because they don't bloom very often and when they do, all their energy goes into producing this incredibly tall spike with rather unimpressive flowers and then it the whole plant dies. The whole process takes a long time and we are waiting this one out to see what it does. The birds like it.

The rat patrol came today and despite the fact that the trap was sprung and the bait gone, and the fact that I heard something scratching around the vent in the living room, he said there was no evidence of rodent activity. Another mystery resulting from life in the country.

Tim and Owen got back from their bike ride in Annadel State Park and it seems that they fair did themselves in! They are now restoring themselves with electrolyte drinks and cool showers. Peter is taking a break from the four cats, two of them very old, and joining us for dinner. We are putting him to work clearing one of our rain gutters. Last time we cleared it it was full of acorns. We'll see what's clogging it up now as the gutters are covered. 
UPDATE: Still acorns. Somehow the woodpeckers have managed to pry up the gutter cover and fill up the drainpipe with acorns. Peter is hanging over the edge of the roof trying to secure the gutter cover. I'm more concerned with securing Peter!

Out tree guy came by today and he is going to trim all the big trees including the one that is behind the agave. The tree must be about thirty feet tall which gives an idea of how tall the agave flower spike is, and it is still growing....

Nature is pretty fascinating.