Agave

Agaves or century plans are very common in this part of Arizona. I really like them. This first one is entertaining a small flock of birds, possibly bluebirds, but we couldn't get close enough to tell for sure. Some people harvest the flowering stalks, decorate them and use them for Christmas Trees. They grow for years, bloom once and then they die. Below: a young one just starting out and and old one fading away.