Hummingbird near blooming aloe plants in Laguna Beach, California

© Aurora Photos/Offse

April hums to a close. Aloe in bloom

The bright flowers of these aloe plants offer a striking contrast to their more recognizable green, spiky stems. Native to Africa, Madagascar, and the Arabian Peninsula, aloes—including the well-known aloe vera species—are now grown outdoors in many locations that boast mild winter climates. They can bloom at any time throughout the year. And yes, even indoor potted aloes can be encouraged to bloom with the right amount of sunlight, water, and fertilizer.Aloes, like most of the world’s flowering plants, need help with pollination, which is essential for maintaining biodiversity and our food supply. That’s where this buzzing little hummingbird comes into play. As it feeds on the aloe flowers' nectar, it pollinates the plants, too. But, broadly speaking, pollinator populations are declining, whether they’re bees, butterflies, or birds. You can help by planting a pollinator garden and avoiding pesticides, which can harm the pollinators.