So I took all of your excellent advice and planted the garlic. Wow.
It does grow, doesn’t it?! In a week and two days, the three bulbs, only two of which had small shoots before being planted, have produced three many-inch shoots, plus a few rogue ones off to the side. I’m not used to plants in my care exhibiting this sort of enthusiam for life!
They’re sharing a pot with the unfortunate strawberry plant — after its awesome berry episode, it managed to get covered with teeny web-spinning bugs. I put it outside and the frost killed the bugs (score!) but also the leaves (oops.). The root structure is still deep and strong and the stalks are bendy and green, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it be inspired by the cohabiting garlic and will grow back.