The mighty, macho agave
I wouldn鈥檛 call the plant beautiful. It was more like a handsome dude. Macho, strong, and somewhat controlling. I found it almost impossible to cut his tenacious tips or trim his fibrous browning leaves even with my sharpest garden clippers.
Instinctively I knew that the repotting procedure would be a struggle. Impenetrable garden gloves were essential. I bought a pair that covered my hands and part of my forearms.
I used a hammer to smash the container that this masculine succulent had long ago outgrown. I tore strips of plastic away from Mr. Handsome鈥檚 roots.
鈥淚 know it鈥檚 torture now,鈥� I apologized as I yanked his thorny spear-shaped leaves out of the jail that had formed in his snug pot, 鈥渂ut you鈥檒l feel freer and much more alive soon.鈥�
In reply, he stung the part of my arm that was unprotected. Ouch! Still, I understood. I鈥檇 want to get even, too, if I had been bruised and battered this way.
Finally, the repotting was complete. I planned to position the poor guy on the deck where the sun would shed light on his green-blueness as he lounged in his new orange home.
As I set him down in the perfect spot, his spear point pricked the tip of my nose. I felt the pain and instantly forgave him again. I watered him lightly to calm him down, and stepped back to admire how proud and straight he looked.
The day before, when I first saw him on Karen鈥檚 porch, I was smitten.
鈥淚t鈥檚 pot-bound and I have no place for it,鈥� she said. 鈥淢aybe I鈥檒l just throw it into our green trash. At least it鈥檒l get recycled.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檒l take him,鈥� I said quickly, even though I knew the danger.
Karen looked at me funny as I knelt on the concrete to pick him up.
After the repotting episode, I researched 鈥渁gave鈥� in my copy of Sunset鈥檚 鈥淲estern Garden Book.鈥� He鈥檚 really called a century plant. After 10 years, the book reported, he would produce 鈥渁 branched 15- to 40-ft. flower stalk bearing yellowish green flowers.鈥�
Karen had already had Mr. Handsome for five years. In a mere five more, my man might blossom. I only hope our relationship lasts that long.
