Emerging Blossom

This is an immense emerging bloom from this desert plant in front of my house. The blossom body is at least a foot (0.3 m) tall. This is the first year this plant has bloomed and I can't wait to see what the flower looks like when it fully opens. Desert plants typically have very showy and often spectacular flowers, even though they generally bloom just one per year (if that) and for a relatively short time. Because of their short and sporadic blooming cycle, the desert plants typically do have spectacular flowers in order to attract pollinators in the short window they can.

This plant is one you don't want to get too close to. The leaves are quite stiff and the pointed ends are extremely sharp. Trust me. The ends will readily penetrate shoe leather, a leather jacket, shirts, gloves, or just about any other fabric (and of course the underlying dermis.) I've thought about getting rid of these plants (we've three of the buggers) but now I'll have to wait and see how the flower turns out. Plus, they do tend to complement our palm trees.

Brakes are back in order on the car.