Aloe arborescens
1st March 2015
The recent run of bad winters did a lot of damage to my fledgeling collection of Aloe. To be honest, it was never much of a collection
more a donation of Aloe. People will insist on giving them to me. I'm happy enough about it, but it isn't really me behind it all.
During the massacre of winters I watched calmly as they turned to black smelly mush. I promised myself that Aloe had been done as well as done for.
I was wrong. Before I had even swept up the black slush a generous donation of seedlings appeared with a visitor. They were quite small, and I have grown them on
since 2013 so they have become familiar and I have started to view them fondly. Aloe arborescens was one of them. It has never been hardy for long here
in a cold greenhouse so here it is, just starting to look good and facing an uncertain future with perky bravado.
3rd March 2018
Things were progressing well until the beast-from-the-east arrived. Freezing winds for a fortnight tested a lot of things in the garden
and unfortunately this happened to Aloe arborescens in the Agave house. It is beyond recovery but not unexpected. Many succulents will
withstand low temperatures if they are dry, Aloe are not among them. One good frost and they are mush.