The Century Plant (Agave americana) is, of course, totally misnamed. It only lives 10 to 30 years. It does, however, have only one flowering, after which the plant dies back to its root runners, to appear again in a different spot. So, while not once every hundred years, the flowering is rare enough to be an event worth noting. This specimen is in the native plant garden atop the Visitor Center at Anza Borrego Desert State Park. And what a setting for the bloom!

Canon SX50HS. Program with iContrast and Auto Shadow Fill. From 190 to 1200mm equivalent field of view. Mostly 1/1000th at ISO 160. Processed in Lightroom for intensity, clarity, and sharpness.