Agave Flower Attracting Bees And Sunbird
When A Flower Blooms
Agave plant is not from South Africa, this one was planted in a pot approximately twenty-five years ago, now for the first and last time this Mexican plant is in flower, I believe they die after flowering.
What has been fascinating is the stem of the flower took around two months to reach full height, passing gutters along roof edge.
On researching found the flower should last around two to three months, it is now at the end of first month in flower. Also known as American aloe this plant of Mexico has large whale shaped, spiked rosettes as can be seen in the pot plant.
Toxic to both people and pets, love to be neglected in a warm place around the home. Agave tequilana is an important economic plant in Mexico, I will not be trying out brewing tequila here!
Bees have gone hyper active visiting this flower, wish I knew where the hive is for a taster, slightly bigger than the bees is is what has become a regular little visitor which I am still trying to find trustworthy identification on it is either the Olive sunbird or possibly more rare Plain-backed Sunbird (Anthreptes reichenowi reichenowi), forum friends have not confidently given indication, my feeling is rare/accidental sighting with unusual flower of near-threatened bird.
With other sunbirds in the garden this one is the only one visiting the flower, I have not seen the evening bats approach however do believe they too enjoy the nectar.
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All three of the above photographs taken earlier today.
Flowering started from the bottom and still working it's way to the top before seeds should appear before planting out the pups by shooting them into the air, another wonder in nature as to how plants disperse their seeds.
Photograph taken on 11th August when I first noticed this lovely visitor to foreign flower in my garden. Thanks for visiting and from a cool Durban with snow on the mountains inland, sun has been brightly shining as always, have a wonderful weekend.
Entry to Amazing Nature Contest: FREE TOPIC - #2/8/22
All photography my own using Canon Powershot SX730 HS camera. Any queries or requests please drop a comment below or make contact with me, have a wonderful day! Photography without tripod, go with the flow wherever life takes you. NB: Amateur photographer in nature, keep smiling!
Thought for Today: "If you want visitors then you leave your front door open." - African proverb
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the shots are so amazing the details of the birds look so beautiful ,they have mouths that look so unique 😍
Specialized beak to get down deep into flowers much like the humming birds, also small in size and quick in flight.
yes you are absolutely right and you managed to take an amazing photoshoot, guys ;)
Surprise myself (not using tripod), putting onto computer screen, yup ecstatic to see!
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That firs shot is an absolute beauty Joan, I kept making sense of how you manage to get such shot lol. I see this plant around never knew it is not originally from SA.
Good evening to you, it is freezing over here in Joburg.
Being a hardy succulent, water wise managing hot sunny conditions and frost they happy to live here.
This sunbird fascinates me still having discussion in forum which one of the two birds it may be.
Was nipper here in Durban as well, fresh bright sunny morning greetings on Sunday!
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Elongate could be really drawn out.
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I have some agave tequila in the house right now! Such a shame it has to die after flowering
Enjoy a sip thinking of life of Agave. Pretty flower pity it is so tall I cannot capture the perfume, will wait full cycle to see what happens.
It is one of the ones I wouldn't mind growing but the climate here is not good for it
Wee bit wet up there... !LOLZ
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Maybe the bird visitor to your garden thought that he had to taste as long as there is something to taste :-)
Must have a strong perfume the bees arrive in great numbers, did take note the bees leave when the bird arrives.
Nature can arrange it :-)
The first one is so sharp and it feels so timeless...
Looks like a smile in there somewhere, must be happy returning regularly now.
Wonderful captures, @joanstewart !
You are blessed to see such sights, and then take photos of them.
We are lucky that we have Hive to share such beauty !
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Bird moves quite swiftly, I do think I have seen two together not able to capture yet. Life is beautiful when you look into nature, always offering something to share on Hive.
!LUV for the token Lady 🙂 have a fun Sunday.
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Yes, nothing like the beauty of nature. None could match color combinations and such of nature! I long for more time to do what I enjoy doing, that is, enjoying nature and taking my time. Alas, I am 20 years to retirement!
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That is a proper thick stem! Wow! Very cool!
Going to be a problem when dies off, has to be handled with care apparently..., that toxic!
It's like I see this flower very often, as you said maybe the flower blooms once and it's the last one
Apparently used in our dry regions, being sub-tropical I kept it in a pot out of rain in a spot that captures morning sun, rewarding to see it in flower.
Indeed, this flower only blooms one time. I really like this flower, even when I was little I was pierced by the tip of the leaf
Many have been pierced by the thorns !LOLZ planted at the doorway not often used, people forget until plant makes acquaintance with them once again.
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Cold turkey.
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The thorns on the tips of the leaves are like poison if they get stabbed in the thighs
Need to take mental note to walk around safely I have warned folk it is up to them I don't move happy plants 😅
Oh wow, stunning photographs of the little sunbird. You really caught some great action. And the plant is really cool. I have seen so many of them flowering throughout South Africa and I never knew that this is the Agave plant. It goes to show that local birds prefer local flowers! What an interesting observation. Thank you for sharing!
Plant was potted and placed under roof not to capture too much rain, enough humidity to keep it going all these years, lovely watching it bloom. Some plants sure take their time, then suddenly give you a delightful surprise.
That is so true. Some things just grow so slowly. I waited two years for my swiss chard to go to seed. Not that spectacular plant, but when it did go to seed after two years I felt like a true gardener, haha.
Time to plant next veggies once again, then try protect them for the table from the monkeys, never highly successful unless you purchase a wind tunnel or put up special netting.
Same here with the squirrels and other creatures! But sometimes we are lucky enough that they leave some for us. Best of luck! It looks like it will be a good year, at least for us here in the Cape, lots of rain and the ground is happy.
Still dry up here, hopefully some rain soon, seeds will need to be watered to get them going irrespective of everything else happening.
Has it rained since? We had some rain again in the last two days.
Light drizzle last night and a little again today, nothing to write home about.
We had various showers, and the ground is soaked. I wish I could send some rain up there!
Yeeehe super photosss greetings
Busy little bird and bees, wonderful watching progress. Thanks and have a great day.
Good post, both insects and birds have adapted to obtain nectar from these flowers, it can be said that the agave contributed to their evolution by adopting this type of inflorescence.
Robust plant to say the least, needs little to no attention once in a spot where it is happy.
Gosh, the first picture is insane, and you have a few more added here, it shows you're dedicated when you take pictures.
Have a peaceful Sunday.
Has been fun watching all happening around this tall stem, top tier flowers yet to open.
Have a wonderful new week and thanks for visiting.
Your images are amazing as always, @joanstewart! I love agave plants, and they grow beautifully in warmer climates in the southwest part of the United States, but not where I live. So I only get to see them when I travel!
I did not know they are toxic, so ii learned something! There must be parts that are toxic (like if you get poked by it’s spike) and parts that are edible. And I believe that the edible part is used as a sweetener.
It looks a lot like aloe plants, which are soft and fleshy. We can grow aloe indoors here, and we use it medicinally for skin rashes and burns.
I hope you can get seeds from your agave so you can grow another one when that one dies!
Variety of Aloe plants vary from small to large, Agave succulent also arrives in a variety each offering slightly different variations in use. One thing I have taken note of is when it dies off to wear gloves, mask possibly eye protection when chopping to sizeable pieces.
Seeds we will have to wait and watch where they land, some plants we have expel seed a good couple of meters in every direction on a windless day.
Doubt very much I will be around in 25 years to watch another grow and flower, will have to give to people growing succulents around the garden with instructions !LOLZ
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Hi there... I have a random question... Do you perhaps have any clue what happened to @jaynie 🤔🙋♂️
Hi I think taking a break, not heard anything untoward trust safely rearranging life. Have a great day and take care.
Hi. I was wondering thnx
Wow, what a beautiful flower, and it's really huge. From the first image, which I really love, I didn't think it's that tall 😊
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Has been an interesting plant to enjoy, amazed at the thickness/weight of stem then unusual flowers topping off plants lifetime story.
Hope you have a good week, not that going into an office is ever something to write home about, enjoy!
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He was best in his field .
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Oh yes, I don't think I have ever seen such a plant, but I haven't seen many South African plants anyway 😉 !LOLZ
It's a hard week in the office and after work I'm working on the van 😅
But tomorrow will be the last day to work this week, because on Friday we are driving to our daughter and spend the weekend there.
Hope you're having a great week too 🌞
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Enjoy the drive down to your daughter should give you a good break from everything.
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Oh, it was a nice visit, but also a lot of work to move the rest of her things from the old apartment to the new one and to assemble and mount some furniture we have bought
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Wow the beautiful Agave plant really sprouted up. Too bad it dies after flowering. Love the first photo with the sunbird.
Enjoy the cooler weather, Joan. 😊
Entertaining watching as to who arrived to enjoy, two of the same species sunbird now arrive with all the bees to enjoy.
Although slightly cooler weather sun still shines most days Jo, seldom more than two or three clouded over !LOLZ
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They just don't want to.
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