Agave Leaves Abstract is a photograph by Douglas Taylor which was uploaded on November 4th, 2023.
Agave Leaves Abstract
Spring is typically the season of renewal, and so it is for the Agave ocahui, but in a very different way. For the agave here, spring is also the... more
Title
Agave Leaves Abstract
Artist
Douglas Taylor
Medium
Photograph - Fine Art Digital Photography
Description
Spring is typically the season of renewal, and so it is for the Agave ocahui, but in a very different way. For the agave here, spring is also the end. An Agave only flowers once, and that is at the end of it's life cycle.
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As the agave matures, it begins to grow a "heart" of tissue high in sugar content. If harvested just before the plant begins to bloom, this sugary mass can be roasted to convert the resulting pulp into an edible, sweet food that was once a valued part of the diet for native peoples of the American Southwest and Mexico. A specific species of agave is now well known for having the sugary pulp fermented to produce Tequila.
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Allowed to complete its life cycle, the agave uses the enormous energy stored in the tissues of its base to produce a large stalk during the spring months, ranging between 5 and 20 feet in height, and looking for all the world like a gigantic asparagus spear which grows with astonishing speed. As the stalk develops, it begins to flower, thereby completing its life cycle as the flowers are pollinated and then form seeds. Even as it is flowering at the peak of springtime, the plant itself begins to die. And like the process that produces the brilliant colors of some deciduous trees in autumn, the Agave ocahui's leaves begin to loose their chlorophyll and may turn brilliant shades of yellow, orange and red. Thus, this brightly colored abstract image of the flowering Agave ocahui that I have entitled "Agave Finale". This species is native only to rocky hillsides of northeastern Sonora, Mexico, and the specimen was photographed at the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum near Tucson, Arizona.
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Upon seeing the spectacular coloration of this plant, I had the thought to look for any flowering agave to capture more color. Unfortunately, Agave ocahui is the only one known to show this dramatic color at the end of its life.
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This bright botanical portrait is formatted in the tall, 1:2 ratio for where a striking and colorful creation is desired to suit a demanding interior design requirement. It is available in heights of up to 8 feet tall with striking color and stunning clarity.
Uploaded
November 4th, 2023
More from Douglas Taylor
Comments (17)
Lyric Lucas
Congratulations, your beautiful artistic work is Featured on the home page of the "Bedroom Art Gallery" group. l/f 11/13/23
Douglas Taylor replied:
Thank you Lyric! I am grateful for your recognition of my art by honoring me with this feature.
Alida M Haslett
STUNNING DAZZLER! Wake up world- an agave ocahui is exploding and I don't want to miss the show! Brilliant work. LF
Douglas Taylor replied:
Thank you very much for your enthusiastic compliment, Alida! Your words are most appreciated here.
Laurel Adams
CONGRATULATIONS!! , YOU are awarded: SPECIAL 🎨🐝🏆GA FEATURE ARTIST of DISTINCTION 🥁👏🏻. Please feel free to post your Special Feature, selected for its Beautiful “Nature Patterns” in the ARTIST BUZzz Group Feature 2023 Archive. BRAVO!
Douglas Taylor replied:
WOW! This is a special and unexpected honor. Thank you for the wonderful recognition of my art, Laurel!
Veronica Cassell vaz
douglas, this is a stunning art piece a real WOW
Douglas Taylor replied:
Veronica! Thank you for your enthusiastic compliment! Your words are most appreciated by this man.
Laurel Adams
Douglas, CONGRATULATIONS!! Your lovely image has been featured in The ARTIST BUZzz GROUP!! You are cordially invited to POST your Homepage Feature’s EMBED link to the 2023 Features Archive Thread in the Discussion thread. Thank you for your glimpse of BEAUTY.
Hugh Warren
Congratulations Douglas! Great work you've made the featured list in "Patterns We Find" - I hope you'll post your fine work in the Featured Images discussion thread.
Nancy Carol Photography
CONGRATULATIONS! .... your delightful work of art that has been proudly presented on the Home Page of the group, 'BEST OF BOTANICAL BEAUTY'. If you wish, you may archive it permanently or promote it further in the Discussions Tabs titled, "Oct/Nov 2023 Features."
Douglas Taylor replied:
Thank you, Nancy! I consider it an honor to be featured in this marvelous art group.
Issie Alexander
Love this Douglas - stunning colours and lines
Douglas Taylor replied:
Thank you so much for your wonderful compliment, Issie! Your words are greatly appreciated here.
Steve Rich
Your work deserves to be showcased on the homepage of "The Meandering Photographer" Please consider adding this work to the "Feature History, The Meandering Photographer (Oct-Nov 2023)" active discussion thread. (l/f on 11-5-2023)
Douglas Taylor replied:
Thank you very much, Steve! I am honored to be featured in this superb photograph art group.
Jenny Revitz Soper
BRAVO! Your artwork has earned a FEATURE on the homepage of The Artists Group, 11/05/2023! You may also post it in the Group's Features discussion thread and any other thread that fits!
Douglas Taylor replied:
Jenny! Thank you so much for the recognition for my photography with the feature in this wonderful art group! I am honored to be featured among the many superb artists who participate here.
VIVA Anderson
Glorious GLORY , this artistic, colourful AGAVE in her Autumn glory, so vibrant!!! Wonderful uplifting joy to the viewer! And, her story/life cycles, fullfill her brilliant denouement captured. I love the upward reaching forms so abstract !!! What a special joy, her life survives in Sonora county and Mexico, for only those to see/love, her rarity: and for we, who follow your journies !!, Kudos, Douglas....fav....VIVA
Douglas Taylor replied:
Thank you very much for your wonderful words of compliment, VIVA! They are greatly appreciated here.