CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The agave plant — a 55-year-old Century Plant at the Garfield Park Conservatory — has exceeded expectations... and it's still growing.
Back in February, the floriculturist at Conservatory, Ray Jorgensen, was saying the Century Plant would probably grow 20 to 30 feet and would peak in early May.
"It's 34-and-a-half feet tall right now," Jorgensen said. That was Wednesday. "So I'm sure it's got another inch at least (now)."
And it's still reaching for the sky — through an open pane in the glass roof.
"It's just so neat because it's this organic beast coming through the roof and doing its wonderful flowering, branching dance," he said.
Jorgensen keeps track of its growth and he predicts that later this month the agave plant will finally hit its full height and flower. After that, it will begin to die.
"I'll be sad when she leaves but... I'll start choking up here," he said.