30 Years to Bloom

This plant is one that my Mother gave me 30 years ago (actually it is more like 31 years, but 30 year plant sounds better).  












So I have had this plant for 30 years and I like it.  It is a succulent  so it can dry out and not suffer.  I liked it because of its look.  It had never bloomed.  That is, until a few days ago when my wife said, "Chuck, look at this."  I was amazed.  It sure looked like a bloom forming, a big bloom forming.


So now we have a beautiful plant with a bloom to be and I am thinking, "who knew it would bloom?"  


When I talked to my wife yesterday she said, "It opened!" When I looked at it, I thought, "Wow! what a blossom!"



I didn't actually measure the blossom, but it is at least six inches across.  Wonderful gift from my mother 30 years ago. She passed away 16 years ago and part of why I like it and keep it is to remember her.  I wonder if she knew it would bloom?  However, God knew and it is a gift from Him.  Good things come to he who waits.  

God bless you from Grants Pass Real Estate.  Bye for now.  chuck
P.S. Mother and Dad's wedding anniversary was today, September 9th.  They were married in 1931.
P.P.S. I never knew the name of this plant, but a friend did a search and found it.  It is called Stapelia gigantic, also known as the carrion flower since it attracts flies for pollination by its foul-smelling flowers reminiscent of the odour of rotting meat (I need to tell my wife, she thought the smell was me).  It is native to South Africa.