If you decide to visit Marjan forest park these days for walking, jogging, swimming or any other of many activities possible there, you will probably see beautiful natural phenomena, blossoming of agave. Straight from the heart of cactus-like plant (it's from lily family) grows something that looks like gigantic asparagus, and eventually will get a shape of a tree up to ten meters high. It's a flower of Agave Americana, also known as "century plant" because of a belief that it blossoms once in a century.

That part, of course, is just a myth. Agave flourishes after long stretch of time, but usually about 10 years. What is not a myth is that whole plant dies after flower fully develops. It's a swan song for this interesting and popular plant. Good news is that as it dies, plenty of new plants begins their life around it, to continue a cycle of life.

If anyone is confused why any plant in Dalmatia (and elsewhere in the Mediterranean) is called "Americana", there is perfectly logical explanation. First settlers of American continent obviously fell in love with it so strong, that they brought it back home - first to Italy - in mid-1500s. Ever since, it spreads in this area mostly as a decoration plant, unlike in the old country, where it's used to produce tequila. Maybe locals in the Mediterranean preferred their drinks over Mexican, and didn't accept it. However, in some places people discovered that agave threads are strong enough for different products. The most famous example in Croatia is a lace threaded in Hvar's Benedictine convent, included on the UNESCO's World Intangible Heritage list.

However, agave is beautiful enough to make you like it even when just watching it grows. And as for many other things, Marjan is just a perfect spot. Go there, and admire those big flowers of agave, one of the most amazing farewells in nature.