Skunk Cabbage Flowers, Past Their Peak

Skunk Cabbage, March 29, 2006. Friends invited me to their home in Floyd County, VA today so I could photograph their cabbages beside a stream. This group of three flowers was probably in full bloom last week. I like the way this image shows how the flowers "decay" and dry up as the light green leaves are just beginning to emerge. The tallest leaf is currently about six inches high, but will get somewhat darker in color and reach a length of about 2 to 3 feet this summer. Each plant will literally resemble a giant cabbage!