Yucca plants are abundant across the landscape of the 7MSN. You can't walk more than a few yards without bumping into one...which can be a bad thing because the spikes at the bottom of the bush hurt like heck. But when these plants are in bloom, they are a sight to behold.
It probably comes as no surprise that someone around here has to spoil the splendor for the rest of us.
Lyle knows I hate it when he eats the flowers, but he does it anyway. He puts on his guilty face and just keeps munching.
He positively savors the taste. Though I've not tried them myself, the range guide claims "the main grazing value of the yuccas is the highly palatable, succulent flowers."
So there will be no pictures this year of a pasture awash with the blooms of the desert yucca, and we all know who is to blame.
My isn't he masculine and handsome!
ReplyDeleteAnd I don't think I'd have the heart to keep him from eating the flowers either when he appears to appreciate them sooo much.
I think I'd have to have a taste!
(I am so thrilled with your bank robber knot! Thanks for sharing it!)
But Lyle is one good looking equine. I'm attributing his glossy coat to the nutrients in the yucca flowers.
ReplyDeleteAw, he looks so happy eating them though! Look at that blissful expression!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful flowers. I love, love, love the desert. I'm so envious!
Lyle is so handsome....sorry he eats your blooms...
ReplyDeleteHe looks like he is enjoying them greatly. I would never have thought that the flowers were tasty.
ReplyDeleteWow, that's what you call making short owrk of it, Lyle. and I love the header photo, too. Reminds me of that line from Purple Haze - "'Scuse me while I kiss the sky"!
ReplyDeletePete, the donkey, likes the dandelion flowers, but only for a day or two. Then I guess they aren't salad fixins anymore.
ReplyDeleteOOO, I was afraid you were going to tell us there was something poisonous about the yucca. Whew. Now I need to think of a way of digging up the extra ones, shipping them to WA state and making some major bank!
Oh, but who can blame the sweet boy when he enjoys them sooo much. He simply can't help himself...even when he knows it displeases you. I love the guilty look picture!
ReplyDeleteWe have a yucca in our yard, it hasnt bloomed yet, it is just starting to warm up around here.
ReplyDeleteMy experience with dried yucca plants: walked into the desert, cut down a tall skeleton of a yucca flower and stalk, placed it in the back seat. Forty miles down the road, turned around to see hundreds of worms leaving the pods and inching all over the car! Yucka!
ReplyDeleteThis post made me miss Albuquerque even more.
ReplyDeleteWe used to have a beautiful yucca in our front yard there. The blooms would be so heavy that the stalks would bend under the weight of them. Too bad Lyle couldn't have come by to prune it for us!
Thanks for the beautiful photos!
Yeah, but Lyle is worth it isn't he?
ReplyDeleteLyle certainly does look like he's enjoying himself! What a beautiful blaze he has! I love the photo you have for your name background. You take some of the most beautiful photos I've ever seen.
ReplyDeleteThat is really funny! Do they have any nutritional value? Isn't Yucca supplement good for something....I know I've seen it at the health food store.
ReplyDeleteLynette worm story- ew! Reminds me of an inchworms in the car story from my childhood! :)
Ha! That definitely is one guilty face! He's certainly enjoying those to the last drop. Can't really blame the guy for having a sweet tooth.
ReplyDeleteLyle is loving the yucca! He looks like he is enjoying himself!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures, as always!
...and did Lyle author the range guide?
ReplyDeleteHi Carson: I like the new format in your blog site. It is clean and simple and easy to read. Lyle is as beautiful as ever. You keep your ranch in such good order. It really is a pretty place to visit. I love the desert and all the beautiful flowers in the spring. I guess where you live is the high desert. I've spent time in the desert in Arizona. Keep up the good work. I enjoy visiting your place. Best always, Sandra
ReplyDeletePony Girl, the range guide says this about the nutritional value: During prolonged drought, the plants serve as valuable emergency maintenance feed when chopped or shredded and fed with protein supplement. I think that would apply more to cows than horses. The equine supplements that are yucca-based claim that it's good for joint health and respiratory problems.
ReplyDeleteI think Lyle and Keil Bay would be very good pasture buddies. Keil Bay goes for the honeysuckle every year, and also the tulip poplar blooms.
ReplyDeleteThat shot of Lyle with the eye on the camera is too cute. I love his personality.
Okay,Carson, fess up........you've glued false eyelashes on Lyle, haven't you? ;0
ReplyDeleteMine don't touch the flowers. They will occasionally get a taste for prickly pears, but they leave the yuccas alone.
ReplyDeleteStrange as it seems, we have a big yucca plant in our yard in New England. I wonder if Silk or Siete would find it delectable. Lyle looks like he's enjoying it so much that I can see why you didn't have the heart to stop him.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures of the flowers! I can not believe that Lyle eats them! He is really enjoying every little morsel :)
ReplyDelete