Right now Chicago is firmly in the grips of Cold Miser and his crew. We've had subfreezing temperatures for about three weeks straight with several consecutive days of below zero (F) thrown in. Today a strong northeastern wind is pelting us with a fine snow. There is not much accumulation, but some drifts are over a foot and visibility is less than a quarter mile. The howling wind seems to smack you in the face no matter which direction you turn.

The streets are a mess. Roads are reduced to one lane going both ways. And rush hour is just starting! On top of that it will be dark in less than half an hour. Although the thermometer is dropping down into the negatives, you can bet Chicagoans are getting ready for the rising triple threat of tempers, fender benders, and insurance premiums.

This is a day to stay inside. Especially if you have a blooming dracaena. The first flowers opened last night and greeted us as we returned from the Ag School's playoff loss to arch nemesis Gwendolyn Brooks. My wife noticed the fragrance as soon as she opened the door. It's sweet aroma perfumed the whole house.

We have more flowers this year than ever. The spikes are drooping from the numerous clusters. Thank goodness because each individual flower only lasts a day. No flowers open until all the clusters are ready, then in synchrony the clusters open a few flowers each day until their done. Last year we had about five days worth of bloom. This years looks like a week plus.

The pinkish/mauvish, tubular flower bud is time sensitive. At noon buds begin to swell. Around 3:00pm the ripe buds begin to peel back to form six petaled white star with six yellow-tipped stamens. [Nerd Alert: At one point all monocots with six "tepals", six stamens, one style,and a superior ovary were in the lily family; today DNA studies place dracaena in the lily-of-the-valley family.] At dusk (5:00pm) the flowers start to emit their perfume. Right now the first fragrant scents are wafting my way. They are strongest from dark to about an hour before daybreak. In the morning light they fade and drop off.

This tropical plant happily blooming inside lifts the spirits as a mini-blizzard rages outside. There are many houseplants that bloom now, like: amaryllis, kalanchoe, moth orchid, jewel orchid, voodoo lily, calla lily, etc. But with the exception of voodoo lily, no other plant is as easy or rewarding as the dracaena.

This common foliage plant has the MOSS STAMP OF APPROVAL for driving away the winter blues. Go get one.