These two agaves somehow knew this was the last chance to show their stuff.
A few weeks ago I wrote about the blooming of this Agave Ovatifolia I had often admired at The Antique Rose Emporium here in San Antonio.
On Friday 15 June, I returned as promised to follow up on the Agave Ovatifolia bloom and check out the enormous Agave Americana bloom going up just behind the adobe courtyard. In response to questions from readers my plan was to follow these two agave plants as they reproduced and then died off.
That's not likely to happen now since the next day news arrived in the form of an email from The Antique Rose Emporium. They will close the San Antonio location in July due to downsizing. The store in Independence near Brenham will remain open along with the mail order business.
Here's another view of the Agave Americana, the base plant is over nine feet high and the bloom appears to be 30 feet high.
I will miss these gardens and the staff whom I have gotten to know over the years.
I'll also miss the resident cats, especially Spot (on the left) who has followed me around on many a visit.
About the time I turned my attention to the landscaping at our home here in San Antonio in 2009, I also discovered The Antique Rose Emporium nursery and demonstration gardens. On that first trip to visit these gardens I knew I had found my inspiration.
Walking through the large center courtyard planted with drought tolerant natives and adapted perennials was an eye opening experience. This beautiful display is San Antonio gardening at its best.
Standing there that day, I immediately realized that my expectations about what could be achieved in my own gardens needed to be revised upward.
Just a few of my favorite ideas in practice here
Native wildflowers are beautiful in the garden
Cactus, succulents and roses are a great combination for a Texas garden
Bottle trees are cool
Yard art too
Go Texan and go big
I never wanted a rose garden and, actually, I still don't. At The Antique Rose Emporium there are no formal rose gardens. The roses are combined with perennials, cactus, annuals, and succulents to spectacular effect.
I often marveled at the vision that went into creating these garden spaces. There are so many special spots here. The adobe courtyard is a place I could spend all day.
Except when I'm enjoying the blue adobe courtyard
I surely will miss this place
A look back at my previous posts on The Antique Rose Emporium
Fall 2011 Festival of Roses
Happy Halloween
Spring 2012 Springtime Roses
More Than Roses
Agave Ovatifolia Blooms
