Aging Agaves Become A Mirror

Finding My Own Aging, Reflected In Nature

“A Dark Death at the Center” — Image by Author

The long dry season in Oaxaca is approaching its end point. The ten day forecast calls for rain in half of these days. There is a shifting in the skies above.

Like the weather in the States north of here, this seems out of sync with what are considered normal weather patterns in this part of the world. Welcome to the new normal, which translates as, unpredictable.

“A Broad Leave Holds The Remains” — Image by Author

This story is not about the weather. The intro above was written in an effort to set the stage, for my observations from this morning. It has been a week or so since I last visited with the Agaves on the grounds of Santo Domingo de Guzman Cathedral.

I walk through this area regularly, though I don’t always stop in to chat with the Agaves. In passing I have noted how many of these Agaves are growing those tall, slender center stalks.

At times these stalks seem to gain a couple of feet in height in the same number of days. I would guess that at least two thirds of the specimens in this garden, are growing these center stalks.