Didj Sound Painting by Michele Ogilvie

I create my instruments from Century plants. Century refers to the family name for hundreds of indigenous desert plants that bloom only once in their lifetime. Among the most well-known are Agave and Yucca. Agave plants typically live between 10-30 years and can sometimes reach heights of up to 30 feet, while Yucca takes about 5 years to mature and flower. You can see some fascinating Didj videos that showcase how these materials can be transformed into beautiful instruments.  

Towards the end of their lifespan, a long stalk capped with white (yucca) or yellow (agave) blossom clusters will rise from the base of the plant. As it matures, both the plant and stalk will dry out. However, the lifecycle continues, as these plants will also produce suckers or shoots from their base, giving rise to new plants. Michele Ogilvie often highlights this remarkable process in her sound painting techniques.  

Once the seed blossom clusters of a yucca dry out, thousands of seeds will disperse and scatter with the wind, potentially sprouting into new plants, continuing the cycle. It's amazing to think that one day, many years from now, one of these little black seeds could become an instrument.