Moby turns 10 amid tequila party fanfare
Only one plant in my garden has earned a name. You know who I’m talking about, right? Moby, my beloved Whale’s Tongue agave (A. ovatifolia), just turned 10 years old. That is to say, I’ve had him for 10 years — 7 years in my current garden, plus 3 in my old garden.
When I brought him home, in August 2005 (read one of my earliest posts about him), he was a novelty. I’d just started to appreciate agaves and took a chance on this new-to-the-nursery-trade species.
I immediately fell in love with his good looks — like a big blue rose — and uncomplaining disposition. When we moved from our old house in 2008, I was determined that he would come with us and spent a sweaty September afternoon digging him up.
After all these years together, I couldn’t let Moby’s 10th birthday slide by without acknowledgment. And what better way to celebrate the occasion than a tequila party with my gardening friends? Sure, there’s a whiff of cannibalism in it (for the uninitiated, tequila is made from blue agaves), but I set up the drinks table well out of Moby’s view. In his honor, I served pitchers of margaritas and palomas plus tequila-infused watermelon pops, which provided a refreshing and zingy shot of flavor — oh yeah! — on this 100-degree day. That’s David/Mr. Rock Rose hovering over the watermelon pops.
I’m so glad to have friends who get my Moby obsession and were ready to celebrate with me. Here are Julian, Teresa, Lori (The Gardener of Good and Evil), Caroline (The Shovel-Ready Garden), and Laura (Wills Family Acres).
Howdy, Cat (The Whimsical Gardener) and Vicki (Playin’ Outside)!
As the Death Star sank below the trees, the party moved outside, centering around the birthday boy. There’s Jenny/Rock Rose with Laura on the left. On the right are landscape architect Christy Ten Eyck and author and tequila maven Lucinda Hutson.
And here are the smiling faces of Diana (Sharing Nature’s Garden) and Linda (Patchwork Garden). Behind them are Alice, Charlotte (the organizer for Austin Open Day tour), and David.
After a couple of palomas I was feeling pretty good, and so when someone (perhaps even tipsier than I) suggested we all sing “Happy Birthday” to Moby, I was all-in. Mr. Rock Rose kindly took a few photos of Moby being serenaded. Joining me are Chris (Watching My Garden Grow), Lori, and Rebecca (Rebecca’s Retreat). On the right are Bob (Central Texas Gardening), Jenny, Caroline, and Katina (Gardening in Austin).
What a hoot! I had a blast and hope my guests did too. I’m kind of amazed that I threw a garden party in August, perhaps the meanest summer month in Austin and just a week after I whacked back a lot of plants to prepare them for our “second spring” in October. But it turned out just fine — a little sweaty but totally fun. As for the garden, Moby was the star, and he always looks handsome.
If you’d like to try a paloma, it’s easy to mix a pitcher to serve your friends, and it’s a nice change from a margarita. Here’s the recipe I used, from Food52.
Paloma Pitcher
2 parts 100% agave tequila (I like El Jimador)
2 parts Simply Grapefruit grapefruit juice (in the refrigerated aisle of the grocery store)
1 part Fresca grapefruit soda
1 part St-Germain elderflower liqueur
Ice cubes
Lime wedges or grapefruit wedges (optional)
1. Scale the amounts for whatever size pitcher you’re using. For my party, I used a tall glass as my measuring cup, and filled it twice with tequila, twice with Simply Grapefruit, once with Fresca, and once with St-Germain.
2. Stir to mix well.
3. Pour into ice-filled glasses.
4. If you like, garnish with a lime or grapefruit wedge.
5. Sip and enjoy!
Helpful notes: You can mix the pitcher several hours ahead except for the carbonated Fresca, which will go flat; wait to add it until you’re ready to serve. Pre-chill the Fresca and Simply Grapefruit so that the drink will be cold when poured over ice. Don’t put ice in the pitcher, or it’ll water down your drinks.
All material © 2006-2015 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Pam, I’ve been admiring Moby ever since I’ve been reading your blog and trying to figure out where I can plant one of his relatives! He is indeed a very handsome guy! May he live many, many years to come!
Thanks for the longevity wishes, Melody. I’m hoping he lives to a ripe old age too, although I think he may already be old by ‘Whale’s Tongue’ standards. —Pam
Happy birthday Moby! Looks like everyone had a great time and the guest of honor could not have looked more dashing. My A. ovatifolia has made it through three soggy NW winters and grows larger each year but I don’t know if he’ll ever get as big as Moby in our climate. Thanks for the recipe, sounds delicious.
Agaves may not grow as large in the Pacific Northwest, but at least they will grow. Keep on keeping on, little Whale’s Tongue! —Pam
Oh, Pam! What a grand idea! We Texans will celebrate anything for a margarita !! 🙂 Here’s to Moby (clink) and another 10 years !!
So true, especially in this heat. Moby thanks you for the birthday wishes. 🙂 —Pam
Hooray for Moby! What a fabulous idea and Moby seems to be blushing a little during the singing of the song. Great recipe, I’ll have to try that one out. Happy Birthday to you, Mr. Moby!!
Do try the palomas, Tamara. They are refreshingly tasty on a hot summer evening. Do you get those in Portland? 😉 —Pam
Hmm…never heard of them but I”m not hip like that! I can make stuff, though so will make these for some fab summer party. Thanks, David says “Wow, what a sexy agave!!”….oh, and “Hi Pam”…!
David has good taste, Tamara. Oh, and hi back! 😉 —Pam
It truly was a wonderful party with so many great friends and Moby. We have all come to know and love him and his fellow species. I went for the traditional margarita and the watermelon pops. You know they did the trick when I took home all your waifs and strays.
I don’t usually have to get you drunk for you to take home my waifs and strays, you softy, you. —Pam
Moby looked quite handsome all decked out for his party. What a hoot. I haven’t heard a better reason for a party in a long time. I remember when you got him and when you moved him. He is part of the family after all and deserved this celebration. Woot woot…
After moving to this house with us, he does feel like part of the family, Lisa. Like a cat, maybe. He’s rather aloof actually. —Pam
Happy Birthday, Moby!!!!!!!
XXxX (blowing kisses, no ouchie hugs)
You’re smart to avoid the hugs. He sneakily got me on the foot when I put up the happy birthday banner. —Pam
I love that you did this, what a fun time! Moby is simply dashing in his birthday finery. Here’s to another 10 years!
Hear hear! —Pam
(that’s a first – an agave birthday ;~)
With a blue dress code?
Happy birthday, Moby!
Going to reread your transplant story. That was one of the earliest blog posts to make an impression on me. And it stays with me years later. I do admire that Gardening!
I noticed that quite a few guests were decked out in blue, just like Moby. No dress code except perhaps a subconscious wish among all of us for cooler weather, and blues just feel cooler. —Pam
One of the better birthday parties I’ve been to 🙂 Thanks for a great time. Moby is truly something.
Thanks for coming, Laura! —Pam
Happy BD to Moby! He really does look like a whale breaching out of that planter now.
Doesn’t he? What a ham he is. —Pam
There you are living out the blog’s tagline! Congrats to Moby, and thanks for the instructive visual lesson in How Big They Get.
I’m chuckling over your tagline comment, Nell. I like to think so! And yes, we do grow ’em big down here. —Pam
It was a great party.
Moby is quite the handsome….and, big…birthday boy!
I’m glad you were able to come, Linda! —Pam
I enjoyed Moby’s party, the gardening friends, food, and the margaritas. Thanks for not kicking us out of your yard!
I wouldn’t have dreamed of it, Rebecca. I was having way too much fun! And it was surprisingly breezy and cool by 10 pm, wasn’t it? —Pam
May Moby have many happy returns of the day!
Thanks, Ricki. 🙂 —Pam
Happy birthday, Moby! Wish I could have been there to celebrate with you. I hope I get to meet you before you leave home for college, never to be seen again.
But if you decide to stay home instead of leaving the nest, you only have 11 more years before you get to try one of those delectable palomas!
Moby will leave the nest one day, and I suspect it will only be a couple of years away. Better visit soon, Gerhard. —Pam
Hi to all my Austin gardening friends! And happy birthday to Moby! Yes, it is pretty amazing that you threw a party in August and you all didn’t melt but I’m sure the tequila helped. 🙂
We melted and then refilled ourselves with tequila, Jean. 😉 —Pam
It was *the* social event of the season and I was delighted to be there to help you celebrate! p.s those watermelon pops were killer.
Those pops were surprisingly good, weren’t they? So glad you could come, Caroline. —Pam
What a great reason for a party! I can’t believe how BIG Moby is. It’s a little scary really, given that my whale’s tongue agave is just 3 year’s old this month. Methinks I may have to find another place for him…
I’d say it ultimately needs about 8 feet of space to spread out, at least in a warm climate like yours and mine. And let’s just say it’s as easy as it’s ever going to get to move yours, Kris. —Pam
What fun! A tequila-themed birthday party for ten-year-old Moby is the perfect summer event. Just glad you didn’t let the youngster indulge 😉
No tequila for Moby. It would be like drinking a cousin. 😉 —Pam
Feliz cumpleaños, Moby! Long may you reign, big boy!
We use a pared down version of your Paloma recipe I snagged out of an NYT article years ago. It has gotten us through many a torrid summer evening (as far as we can recall, anyway…).
Your tequila infused party-goers didn’t happen to engage in any rain dancing along with your serenading did you?
Gah! I knew there was something we forgot! —Pam
A great reason for a party! You ‘Moby’ is growing up to be a fine specimen.
You know how to make a mother proud, Layanee. —Pam
I wish I could have joined y’all … that looks like great fun! Happy birthday, Moby!
Moby says thanks, Cindy! —Pam
It was a blast – thanks for having us!
So glad you could come, Katina. —Pam
Happy Birthday, Moby! Looks like you had a swell birthday party. I’m envious, but I know you deserved it after all those years pulling guard duty.
Yes, he’s good until his New Orleans funeral party. —Pam
Last summer we had two brunches in the garden to celebtae 20 years at our house. None of my plants are as big and gorgeous as Moby or I would have had a party in their honor.great idea and great sounding drink.
Twenty years is an excellent reason to throw a party. You’ll have to throw another one when you finish your stonework out front. It’s going to be gorgeous! —Pam
20 more death star seasons, Moby! Looks like a fun party
Moby knows how to have a good time, David. 😉 —Pam
Happy Birthday Moby!
And thank you for linking to all of your guest’s blogs! I’m still figuring out how “in” I am on gardening (I love “looking”, but I’m still experimenting with “doing”), but it’s really helpful to be able to follow blogs that are local to Austin and relevant to the options I have here.
You are welcome, Shadlyn. If you’d like even more links to local blogs (and non-local, for that matter), check out my Garden Blogs I Dig page. —Pam