Short measure

This is a flowering specimen of Agave Americana, commonly known as a century plant. It puts up that one big stem with flowers at the top, at the end of its life. After a while, the wind blows the stem over and uproots the dead plant. Of course, in the process, new shoots were left behind to start a replacement plant; I guess this means Elton John was right.
Anyway, this particular example is round the corner from our house so I know it's only been there 6 or 7 years. Nowhere close to a century - I wonder if the bloke still has the receipt?