Peg McNeilly stands next to the mescal agave in flower. The plant is common in the Anza Borrego desert east of San Diego where they flower in April, but rare this far north. After 15-20 years of growth, the plants flower once and die.
Clyde and Peg McNeilly are enjoying a rare site in their garden in the Pine Nut hills east of Gardnerville.
A mescal/agave plant that Clyde planted about 16 years ago is flowering.
He explains that the plants, common in the southern deserts but fairly rare this far north, bloom once after about 15-20 years and then die, according to some sources.
"So I guess, it's right on schedule," he said.