I like Yucca plants, and yet I’ve not photographed them much. I’ve photographed a few here and there, but I typically miss the flowering stage. . . but not this year.
This specimen was photographed along Ute Pass, on my way home from work.
To my eyes there are enough variations between Yucca plants to make them appear as if there are many members of the same family. According to THIS SOURCE (click to read about the plant), there are only two varieties around these parts, but they acknowledge wide variation of characteristics in specimen of each.
Even the same plant can vary significantly through the flowering cycle.
Around this time of year they are most noticeable because of their flowers. These particular plants were photographed, as I mentioned, all on Ute Pass.
Typical setting along Ute Pass
After the flowers are gone, they blend in fairly well, and you hardly notice them.
The plants have an interesting reproductive cycle, as they are dependent on one species of moth for fertilization; the Pronuba Moth. The night-flying Pronuba drills a hole in the ovary of the flower, lays eggs, and in the process pollinates the Yucca. The Yucca then becomes food for the larva. The hole can be seen in every Yucca fruit.
I don’t know if that’s the hole they are referring to, but it does look like an actual hole as opposed to the shell coming apart.
That’s the other thing with these plants . . . I also like the empty fruit husks. They are photogenic in a variety of conditions; in the winter they offer contrast and texture to snowscapes.
Of course, right now there is little snow to contend with.
Photos of the above dried specimen, and subsequent photos below, were all snapped along a dirt road near where I live. Yes, I went on a drive this past weekend, and took some pictures which will show up, along with a narrative, in future posts.
I think the post and barbed wire offer a nice background to these plants.
These plants were earlier in their flowering cycle, and offered up some color that gradually fades as the flower develops.
I was also able to take my time with my 105mm F/2.8 macro, and offer up some contrast between the new . . .
. . . and the old. I find beauty in each, and it’s hard for me to say which I prefer.
Texture . . .
. . . versus color.
And changing colors, at that.
I was lucky to find one flower which was not pointing down. However, no moth . . . unless it had already fertilized the flower, and had long since moved on.
The angle and lighting was not favorable toward showing details, so I used a bit of fill-flash. Perhaps a bit too much.
I plan to go out again this weekend, and perhaps catch a later stage of the flower-fruit -death cycle. Meanwhile, one last shot.
I do like the fence post as a backdrop . . .
As usual, one can view all the above photos, and a few more, in a dedicated SmugMug Album. There one can examine the photo at full resolution. Why, I even turned on the option to display the camera settings.
Thanks for dropping by to look at, and read, my stuff.
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. . . my FP ward . . . chieken shit.
Never thought about what yucca flowers look like before and definitely did not imagine this. It kind of looks like two plants were copied and pasted together. My favorite is the ‘Texture’ pic.
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Here in the east people try to integrate them into the landscape. They fail miserably! There is nothing more beautiful than what you have posted. you’ve captured their essence beautifully! Thank you.
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Very nice photos. I jumped over to the SmugMug gallery and perused them all. I like the ones by the barbed wire fence, but Like Sarah, I think the “texture” photo is my fave.
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Thanks all . . . I do like the plants a lot, but would not likely try to have them in my garden unless I set up a specific area with other wild plants and wildflowers.
I’m hoping to get more of the texture, especially the inside because I love the color (looks like Teak). The pictures in the post are OK, but at full resolution one can see they lack sharpness. It was windy, as I mentioned.
I might grab one of the old stalks to photograph at home, and provide better results.
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I’ve never seen a yucca plant before but I love these photos. I personally like the one that’s flowering and the one by the fence. Beautiful photos.
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My favorite is “texture.” Although I find the live flowers lovely, I do prefer the contrast and sharpness of plants which have gone to seed.
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I love the old seed-pods/fruit…beautiful, as are the shots of the plant by the fence post…beautiful, Emilio.
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Boy, you’ve really made it hard to choose a favorite! The “texture” shot is excellent but I really, really like the contrast that is provided by the plants and the red dirt. A feast for the eyes!
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