Aloe, I'm Back

No, I wasn't overwhelmed by the little gasp of winter we had last Saturday--a good old case of acute viral rhinopharyngitis has kept me from posting for a few days. My brain tends to get foggy when I have a cold, which is not the best state for writing, or for taking care of plants, for that matter. I did manage to keep up with the basic watering, however.

Anyway, when I went down to the basement to check on my succulents, I found this:

Aloe variegata with bloom stalk

Closer view of stalk and the soon-to-be flowers

Aloe variegata is a particular favorite of mine, with its beautifully patterned foliage and generally easygoing indoor demeanor. I've had this plant for four or five years now, and I think this is the first time it has bloomed. Think is the operative word here; it could actually be the second time. I wasn't kidding about the brain fog. I'm also blaming said fog for the awful pun in the title of this post. I couldn't think of anything else to call it.