| Author | Content |
AlohaHoya
Keaau, HI
(Zone 11)
September 28, 2009
01:13 AM Post #7111576
| Are you OK...gotta run up there to see you!!!
Carol |
Braveheartsmom
Kihei, HI
(Zone 11)
September 28, 2009
02:43 AM Post #7111692
| He's probably at home making some decadent chocolate truffles from his cocoa pods - yummm! |
Metrosideros
Keaau, HI
September 28, 2009
05:15 PM Post #7113857
| Hi Carol! How are you?
Had to go to the emergency room a few weeks ago, due to a severe insulin reaction. Otherwise doing okay. Weeds are getting a bit tall here, time to sharpen up the scythe! |
westraad
Xai Xai
Mozambique
September 30, 2009
01:59 AM Post #7118881
| Glad you are better, Dave. are you diabetic?
good luck dealing with the weeds!
Isaac |
Braveheartsmom
Kihei, HI
(Zone 11)
September 30, 2009
02:39 AM Post #7118907
| Sorry to hear you had another scare Dave. I hope all has been well since then. |
Metrosideros
Keaau, HI
September 30, 2009
01:08 PM Post #7120149
| Thanks Jenn & Isaac. Yes, I am a type 1 diabetic. My problem arose from not eating enough. I'll be a bit more careful now to get some good carbs in me, early in the day.
Aloha, Dave |
AlohaHoya
Keaau, HI
(Zone 11)
September 30, 2009
01:16 PM Post #7120176
| Ah, the life of a busy bachelor!!! Yes..EAT!!! or I am going to have to come up there and beat you up!!!! HAHAHA YOU thought I was going to say "...come up there and cook for you"...
Glad you are better, Dave. Have you ever extracted the nectar from an Agave? |
Metrosideros
Keaau, HI
September 30, 2009
01:51 PM Post #7120306
| Hi Carol, I'm making breakfast right now! ( I never knew not eating enough could be so scary.)
I haven't tried to get nectar from Agave yet. (I've eaten Agave flower spike, but it's not that good.) The nectar is known as "aquamiel" which is a sweet liquid gotten from the flower spike. Aquamiel can be cooked down into syrup or fermented to make "pulque" (Agave beer).
The principal species for making aquamiel is Agave salmiana. A secondary species which can be used, and is common around here, is Agave americana. |
AlohaHoya
Keaau, HI
(Zone 11)
September 30, 2009
04:56 PM Post #7120957
| Hmmmm I wonder if using a press for cane sugar juice would work on the flower spike? |
Metrosideros
Keaau, HI
September 30, 2009
05:00 PM Post #7120968
| I think it might.
The flower spike is prepared by letting the flower spike get large but cutting the flowers off as it grows up. When the stalk has gotten large and swells, it is cut for nectar. |
AlohaHoya
Keaau, HI
(Zone 11)
September 30, 2009
05:01 PM Post #7120975
| AH...any idea how long it takes before the bloom spike? |
Metrosideros
Keaau, HI
September 30, 2009
05:26 PM Post #7121081
| For Agave americana, supposed to be 6 to 10 years, although I've had several varieties in the ground for about 13 years and nothing yet.
I've had Agave angustifolia flower, it is used to make tequila, so might have an usable nectar.
Here is variegated A. angustifolia. You probably have this one.
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
ardesia
Saint Helena Island, SC
(Zone 9a)
September 30, 2009
08:56 PM Post #7121740
| Around here, Agave americana is known as the century plant because it feels like it takes 100 years for it to flower but in actually it is usually about 15 - 20 years.
I never knew you could get nectar from the stalk. They are such pest plants here I usually give them away but now I might hold on to a few and let them mature. |
lourspolaire
Delray Beach, FL
(Zone 10a)
October 05, 2009
10:33 AM Post #7136892
| I love agaves in all their guises. It always saddens me when they spike and bloom, heralding the plant's end. They produce pups that grow quickly but the plant's death is always regrettable.
Take care, all.
Sylvain. |
westraad
Xai Xai
Mozambique
October 06, 2009
06:53 AM Post #7140284
| agaves ABOUND here!! i have a couple in our garden, and i will kill them before i let them bloom. i don't want to deal with a bunch of small ones later. the only reason i keep them is because i find them decorative, but they grow everywhere here in the bush.
Isaac |
lourspolaire
Delray Beach, FL
(Zone 10a)
October 06, 2009
08:44 AM Post #7140490
| In Madeira, 8-foot agaves grow wild right off the vertical rock faces that abound on the island: a very beautiful sight. The botanical garden has even bigger specimens. I enjoyed my visit there.
Sylvain. |
ardesia
Saint Helena Island, SC
(Zone 9a)
October 06, 2009
09:33 AM Post #7140609
| Very young A. americanas pup by the time they are about 6" in diameter, this is decades befopre they bloom. |
Bignonia
Atenas
Costa Rica
October 10, 2009
01:12 PM Post #7154926
| Metrosideros hope you feel better. I have been away from this beauty forum for a long time. Now taking different classes, very very busy. In some way I feel guilty to not be able to visit all of you. Everytime a learn something new from all your wisdom.
There is a plant used in Costa Rica to treat diabetes: Cucurbitaceae= Momordica charantia. |
Metrosideros
Keaau, HI
October 10, 2009
01:21 PM Post #7154965
| Hi Bignonia,
Bitter Melon, Momordica charantia, is used to help regulate blood sugar. I do so by not eating junk foods and getting plenty of exercise.
What classes are you taking? Something about plants? |
AlohaHoya
Keaau, HI
(Zone 11)
October 10, 2009
01:23 PM Post #7154978
| David...have you been taking cinnamon? I hear it is wonderful for diabetes... |
Metrosideros
Keaau, HI
October 10, 2009
01:38 PM Post #7155028
| Hi Carol,
I take Cinnamon and Chromium picolinate. Although I found that the best way to manage blood sugar is to eat well; fish, vegetables, whole grain. |
Happy_1
Fort Lauderdale, FL
(Zone 10b)
October 11, 2009
08:30 AM Post #7157213
| Polar Bear...why have you not come and rescued the two that go to the big dumpster this week? Shame on you and you were just here Sunday. How about coming this week, get your heliaconias and I'll sneak my two "things" in your trunk.
Hap |
Metrosideros
Keaau, HI
October 11, 2009
11:50 AM Post #7157653
| Actually, I don't use a dumpster, I compost. |
lourspolaire
Delray Beach, FL
(Zone 10a)
October 11, 2009
12:28 PM Post #7157765
| You've got yourself a deal, Nancy. What day is good for you?
Sylvain. |
Happy_1
Fort Lauderdale, FL
(Zone 10b)
October 11, 2009
12:34 PM Post #7157781
| Weds afternoon or all day Friday would be great. Are you serious about the agave, for I will have to get them back from the curb. See, I wasn't kidding. |
lourspolaire
Delray Beach, FL
(Zone 10a)
October 11, 2009
12:43 PM Post #7157810
| Yes, I am serious about the agaves. I love agaves. Well, I love anything green that will grow without stressing me out but that's besides the subject. I promise to give them a nice spot and lavish the best care I can muster upon them. Wednesday afternoon is good for me, say around 1:30?
I have decided to conquer the rest of the house's perimeter for conversion into a flower bed. With the summer's heat slowling waning away, I will start digging again. Please do not send anything to the curb before letting me know. Because of the house's set-up, only full-shade plants can not survive here.
(singing)
We're getting heliconias,
We're getting heliconias,
Tee Da Lee Da Lee Da Loo,
We're getting heliconias!
Thanks.
Sylvain. |
Bignonia
Atenas
Costa Rica
October 11, 2009
03:53 PM Post #7158392
| Metrosideros I am taking a intensive course to get a certificate to be a technician in the business of Butterfly Farmers. So besides classes we go to field trips to different areas in the country side to learn more about taxonomy and natural history of butterfly. There is a big part of the course on plant taxonomy , so I am definite enjoying it. We went to a cloud forest for two days, it was raining a lot! But we saw a lot of Morphos. By the way Heliconias are the host plant of Caligo = owl butterfly. |
Happy_1
Fort Lauderdale, FL
(Zone 10b)
October 11, 2009
03:59 PM Post #7158410
| Bignonia,
Good luck on your course. It's sounds like real work.
There are helioconias in the yard, but never saw anything outside that size. Think I would run.
Hap |
westraad
Xai Xai
Mozambique
October 13, 2009
01:29 PM Post #7165086
| Hello again, Bignonia!
Butterflies certainly are interesting creatures, we have some that visit our garden. i can't say i know what species, i don't know much about these beautiful creatures. good luck with the studies, and when you have time, we all would love to hear from you.
Isaac |
Bignonia
Atenas
Costa Rica
October 13, 2009
03:55 PM Post #7165548
| Gracias Isaac |
Happy_1
Fort Lauderdale, FL
(Zone 10b)
October 13, 2009
07:24 PM Post #7166119
| Bignonia,
Would you start another thread with a link from here,(for me who is not that great with threads) to tell us on your journey?
Thanks,
Hap.
Hi, Issac
|
