Stripes and spikes jazz up the late-summer garden

September 02, 2012


I’m so grateful for my stripes and spikes at this time of year. The evergreen (or ever-blue, ever-silver, even ever-yellow) leaves of agaves and yuccas carry my garden through the doldrums of droughty August and September until the fall rains arrive and entice the garden into its second spring. Pictured above is Agave americana ‘Marginata’ glowing in the afternoon light.


Yucca filamentosa ‘Bright Edge’ adds its own sunny color and strappy leaves.


More of a moonshine yellow, ‘Margaritaville’ yucca has surprised me with its vigorous growth. I wonder if it will soon outgrow this culvert-pipe planter? For now though, it’s a perfect fit, shining in its galvanized tower above a carpet of purple heart (Tradescantia pallida).


But my favorite, reigning supreme over the garden, is still Moby, a ‘Whale’s Tongue’ agave (Agave ovatifolia) that glows nearly white at certain times of the day. I always enjoy whale-watching!

All material © 2006-2012 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

2nd garden--2012, Agaves, Containers, Patios/Decks, Xeric plants, Yuccas

4 responses to “Stripes and spikes jazz up the late-summer garden”

  1. Patrick's Garden says:
    September 2, 2012 at 8:11 AM

    Well you certainly don’t want to see my yuccas slammed against a wall by a wayward mulberry, It doesn’t get any respect. I’d get up there and deal with it but I’m a quadriplegic. Lame excuse I know. Works for weeding. That one bugs my kids to death.

    Yours are my antithesis but it’s nice to see what Cinderella will be wearing this fall.

    And she even looks great wearing a pipe.

    But Moby is a sight to behold. Wake me up I’m dreaming again

    Moby is a sight that I never grow tired of, Patrick. I’m glad you appreciate spiky plants too, and I hope you can talk your kids into helping you free your imprisoned yuccas soon. Thanks for stopping by! —Pam

  2. Lisa at Greenbow says:
    September 2, 2012 at 9:28 AM

    I always enjoy whale watching too. 🙂

    As always, welcome aboard, Lisa. —Pam

  3. PlantPostings says:
    September 2, 2012 at 3:24 PM

    Ooooo, you did capture them in beautiful light! The striped ones are stunning!

    They really light up nicely in the afternoon, PP. You wouldn’t think those thick leaves would admit light so readily, but they do. —Pam

  4. Greggo says:
    September 2, 2012 at 10:33 PM

    Moby is awesome.

    I think I hear him slapping his flukes with waaaay too much self-regard, Greggo. —Pam