Yucca filamentosa

I've been fascinated for years by the native yucca plants that grow on the ridge above Lawson's Fork, so I decided today to hike there and draw one. It was cold, so it helped knowing that top of that ridge is sunny in mid-afternoon in winter, and that the bank of Mountain Laurel on the north side of the hill would block the chilling breeze.

Once there I wandered around to find an appropriate sized plant to draw. The big ones are, well, um...way too big and complex; the tiny ones, you guessed it, are too small. This plant's strappy leaves had enough curlies to be interesting and were about 8 inches long - a good size for an hour-long drawing session in a small journal.

I love the curly filaments that decorate the sword-shaped leaves. They make me wonder how and why a plant develops in this way. Do the curls have a purpose? If so, I can't imagine what it would be, but usually obvious features such as these have a function of some sort. Also, I have never seen these plants bloom, yet there are all ages represented up on the ridge, from tiny 3" leaves to the long 20" ones. Obviously some propagation is going on.

Daisy is not at all interested in the yuccas. She wanders while I draw, out of site but not out of hearing. When I get too cold to continue drawing, all I have to say is, "Daisy, come," and she is there to lead me out of the woods.

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This shows how the yuccas grow in and around the rocks...

One of the big plants, taken last winter ...

The rocky ridge where the yuccas grow, taken last winter after a sleet storm.