Century Plant Soars

Katherine Svatek snapped this photo of a century plant in bloom along Country Club Drive just outside La Grange. Cen tury plants, a type of agave, are a long-lived species that bloom only once before they die. Despite the name, they typically live 10-30 years before sending up a tall fl ower spike. Once they fl ower, the plant dies, but often sprout “pups” from their base.