Last night was the night . . . the night of my Queen of the Night AKA orchid cactus AKA epiphyllum.  I noticed a small bud weeks ago, when she was still outside.  When I moved her inside, it was with utmost care.  I worried the lights in my kitchen would interrupt her bloom cycle.  Or, cats . . . being cats.

But, the bud continued to swell and swell.  Last night during dinner, I noticed a slight change in shape.  I watched my favorite TV show, Call the Midwife, and sort of forgot about it.  Then, poof, there she was – a huge bloom staring me in the face.

My orchid cactus came from Amazon two falls ago for $4.  A small cutting in a small pot through the winter.  Then, she grew into a bigger pot and moved to the porch, where she spends summer on a drip system.  She is pretty happy. I am hoping for more than one bud next summer.

The blooms only last a few hours.  Like a daylily, but at night.  It is busy at work this week, so I didn’t stay up all night.  But, I did stay up late enough to enjoy her with my bedtime dessert.