They don't have to be "old" to bloom - just mature enough and growing in suitable conditions. I even have them blooming in 4" containers at the nusery and mine bloom at home consistantly. Sempervivum tanslates loosely to "live forever" and these are some of the hardiest of the commonly grown sedums and succulents, most species adaptable to conditions from zone 4 to 9 and from full sun to dense shade. They are not fussy about soil conditions as long as drainage is good. They propagate themselves most commonly from offsets - the "chicks" - and can spread densely and rapidly in areas where they are happy. Many plants produce unusual inflorescenses - I'm not sure I'd label them as strongly as alien life forms.....LOL! Yours are only still in bud and I'd recommend allowing the flowers to develop fully before you remove them. They are really very attractive and bloom in shades of pink and yellow.

Thanks, tmac and bellarosa! tmac, I have been out of town for the last few days, and I just came back home. On my way back from the airport, I stopped by Lowe's and found the 1 gallon pot of F&E RED! I thought that I must come and post this for you, only to see this post! I guess Lowe's has a better deal then, at $14.99! However, I was hoping to get a larger plant though... sigh... let me wait a little bit... bellarosa - please post a pic! I am dying to see that red bloom!

Lucky to see one of those. I get them once in awhile and they are so interesting. The moth is gorgeous too. When I was working at a nursery, one of the workers found one and she and another worker sprayed it with an arsenal of chemicals and the poor thing writhed and suffered until it finally succumbed. I was so mad I was livid. Told them both they may never have the opportunity to see another one in their lifetime. I get them sometimes on one of my trees and I found a dead one last year (I assume natural causes because I don't use chemicals on my grounds). And it was so beautiful I put it under a glass dome on my kitchen fireplace mantel. It still looks as if it just lit and is sitting there. Good for you northerner for sparing it and asking.

Judy Good there were sales they may have not been called Garage sales during most of your aunt's life. Churches and clubs often had sales of items donated by members to raise money for various things. No disrespect to your great aunt it was only a suggestion of where a stay at home person could have acquired and item. If she acquired it before WWII she probably would have donated it for the war which is another reason to date it later probably into the 1950s so if you are looking for similar pans look then not earlier. Much of the bakeware before the end of the war for home use was not aluminum. There were some pieces but most were what was called tin ware.