Yikes! Year of the Yucca!

Four Yucca
'Soldiers'in a Row

In 1980 I had two Yucca plants on our property. In the ensuing years I've moved them, separated them and replanted them. Some replanting seems squirrel oriented as a few plants sprang up in really weird places--not my doing!

In recent years I envisioned lining the driveway with Yucca instead of pines, or other trees.

This year is the Year of the Yucca. For some reason the odd combination of ice storm in 2009, to more-than-normal snow in 2010, and unusually wet Spring both years, our plantings, both old and new have flourished beyond our wildest dreams.

Yucca 'Bells'
on a Stem

The Yucca I transplanted as tiny roots 3 years ago are full fledged plants along one side of the driveway.

Now I have visions of continuing the row across the front of our property on one side.

Yucca bloom and pod

Yucca is an inspiring plant with such a large flower plume. However, I focused on an individual stem of blossoms to see several bell-shaped flowers on a stem like Christmas lights-- Quite beautiful individually and collectively.

When focusing on a single bloom, the single blossom looks very different from the plume effect perched atop a cane-like 6-8 ft stem!

In fact it looks as if the flower belonged to another species entirely.

Another interesting fact is fertilization is accomplished by a yucca moth. Not every flower depends on bees!!!