10 Mar 2017

Yucca

Ever since this yucca, with its stiff pointy leaves, stabbed one of our visitors in the forehead, causing much bleeding, we have been trying to kill it.

This was in the front yard of our house and, because we had a swimming pool at that time with our kids and their friends running round, we were wary of it putting out one of their eyes.

For well over thirty years we have chopped it down, dug it up by the roots, applied Roundup from the Evil Empire of Monsanto and stripped it of every leaf that it sprouted.

Nothing could stop it regrowing .

Then this year, after we've given up the fight to kill it (never mind the threat to our grandchildrens' eyes) it sent out a long spike and flowered.

But as these beautiful flowers withered and fell, they are impaled on the spiky leaves below, a reminder of the constant hazard they proffer.


Even a sideways pointing leaf can slice through a petal!
I believe another name for this plant is Spanish bayonet, a most apt description.

10 comments:

  1. I've seen people using egg shells to put over the spiky ends. I had that once too and yes, I got poked on many occasions too. Yes, things that we don't want will keep coming back, things that I grow may not live to see another day. :(

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    1. Now that you've mentioned it, I have vague memories of seeing such plants with eggshells. Maybe it's my old brain playing tricks on me.

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  2. Arthur, reading your post I laughed so much. She defeated you and she was right not to die. I have rarely seen such a beautiful plant/flower. I will try to find out more about it, I on Wikipedia. Thank you very much for your fantastic post and your beautiful photos. Have a great weekend ahead :)

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    1. Yes, and it sent out these flowers to celebrate its victory and thumb its nose at us!

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    2. Hahaha. Oh Arthur, love your sense of humour. Have a great weekend :)

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    3. You too, Reader's Tales.

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  3. This plant seem to act like a vilen though it is beautiful .
    It happens that things that we don't feel good to be around stay close and here comes the patience. You got pretty fruit out of your patience friend.

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    1. Hello baili. Thanks for coming by and commenting. Always glad to have you visit.

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  4. This is one scary plant. I do hope that no accident will happen again because of this.

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    1. Thank you for visiting and commenting, Ishmael. The plant is not too bad, as long as you are careful around it.

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