The Lost Mine Trail provides some of the park's best vistas, including this view down Juniper Canyon. The high ridge on the right is the Southeast Rim, while the lower ridge defines one side of Boot Canyon, which comes down from the upper right side of the frame. On a clear day, mountains in Mexico far to the south would be visible.
The flowering plant in the middle of the frame is the Harvard Agave, or century plant. It takes this plant up to 50 years to store enough energy to produce its bloom. Beginning in April, agaves quickly grow their center stalks, often at a rate of an inch per hour of sunlight. This picture was taken in early June. Within a month of this photo being taken, this plant was dead. If park visitors leave it alone, the dead plant's stalk will be a home to woodpeckers and other small birds for years to come.
Agave Along the Lost Mine Trail, BB01-201-21A, Big Bend National Park, Texas | ©2001 Jeff Blaylock.
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