One a personal note, the other when I came in the house I smelled something different but didn't know what was. The next night Doreen was complaining of a horrible smell but to me it smelled like flowers but I hadn't bought any. Then I saw what it was. Years ago (20+) we bought a corn plant because they were big and cheap. It has persisted since then, even freezing out on the deck when we were adding on. No plants die naturally in our house, even with neglect, because of all the light sources. So this old thing, droopy and dust covered stood in the corner and is now about six feet tall.
I was shocked to see that is was flowering. I had never seen flowers on one. It is native to central Africa and has a horrible scientific name Dracaena fragrans. Later the sickening, sweet fragrance filled the house and Doreen was ready to hack them off. But since corn plants live up to forty years and usually only flower once, I couldn't do it. The following morning there was no smell and all the flowers looked like they died. At about 5:00 pm I smelled it again and all the flowers were out. I guess it has evolved to flower in the steaming jungle in the afternoon when the hummingbirds are out pollinate it. Nature continues to fascinate me.
