Asparagaceae Agavoideae Agave americana, the full name of our main backyard Agave (also known as a Century Plant).

I have no idea why we have a huge agave in our backyard, except that – I’m guessing – we thought the plant would not grow very big. But it just kept growing until it dominated our yard. I want to say garden here, but as a friend replied when Michele complained about how difficult it is to maintain “her” garden with the quail and rabbits eating all the sprouts, “You don’t have a garden, you have a habitat”.

Whatever the backyard is, the agave dominates it, and we’ve grown to like its sculptural quality. Then, at the end of last year, it started growing a huge, asparagus-like stalk. In the hot spell we had in early March, it seemed to be growing a couple of inches a day. Then, in late May, it started branching out. Last week, it started blooming, and we are thrilled.