my new arrival!!!

I just adopted an aloe plant! There was a box at the music library full of tiny pale green aloe plants in plastic cups. Gazing at them, I suddenly felt the need for a plant in my life. Michelle, my college roommate three years ago, had an African violet called Lucy. I missed growing things. So I chose my aloe plant.
For the first few days, I was concerned about what to name it. I couldn’t name it after someone I know (too weird), and wasn’t sure if I should give it a name corresponding to its cultural background. And I didn’t know its gender! What if aloe plants need a gender-neutral name? I asked a friend, who suggested Lucky. I was disturbed. I had never considered a “pet” name. I wanted to give it a “real” name, like a person. Then, in a moment of truth, I realized that … it’s a plant. It still doesn’t have a name.
As soon as I got it home, I researched all about my aloe plant and its needs and preferences, and origin. Guess what! It’s succulent. No kidding. It also drinks a lot of water, like me. I hope it thrives!

My plant and I are listening to Keren Ann. We need to spend some time together. I feel really bad because I forgot about it for a couple days. I put the aloe plant on my balcony to get lots of sun, just like the aloe plant experts suggest, but then forgot it was out there and didn’t water it at all this week. I remembered the plant yesterday when I saw a picture of aloe at work, and was suddenly horrified that it might have died through my negligence. As soon as I got home I watered it and poked holes in the bottom of its plastic cup for good drainage. I know it’s a desert plant, but it had been turning a little ghostly (just like the experts predicted for a recently transplanted propagation) and I worried about it. Today I wanted to give it more water but restrained myself and just gave it a splash. Then I brought it in for a little Keren Ann. I heard somewhere that plants like music (which I checked on the internet and found enough information to prove every possible view on the subject). I read the care instructions again and realized I might be watering it too much, so I’m going to stop. I need to get it a new home, with nice sandy soil and gravel in the bottom. Right now, it’s sitting right in front of the speaker, enjoying Nolita. (I hope!)

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