Peeking into a Cabbage

Here is a rather close-up view of a skunk cabbage. My sons and I visited the “cabbage patch” on Sunday, March 14. We found hundreds of skunk cabbage plants in full bloom. The “hood” protects the flower underneath. Looking inside the “window” you can see the “ball” that contains many flowers. They emit an aroma that is not exactly pleasant to the human senses, but attracts flies quite well. Skunk cabbage is one of the very first wildflowers to bloom each year, and it actually generates heat to help melt its way through the snow.