A Rare Occurence

And Make It Double

Blooming for only 24-48 hours every 2-3 years, the corpse flower grows up to 6 inches per day when it’s about to open up. When it does, it releases an odor that smells like rotting meat in order to attract insects for pollination.

This July, I waited in line on an oddly hot and humid (for Los Angeles) day for over 2 hours to see these famous flowers at the Huntington Library. It was fun to see how many people were so passionate about them to commit to such a wait. The tickets were completely sold out for the day since the bloom only lasts for a short time period and I was there around the 24 hour mark. To my pleasant surprise, the scent was quite mild when I got there. Prior to my visit, I was intrigued by what it would really smell like and I would say the scent is quite accurate to how it was described.

From my visit, I was reminded of the beauty that lies in nature. The elegant folds, the gradient of colors ranging from brilliant green transitioning into deep purple, and the spots on the lower part of the spathe all added to its stunning bloom.

— Sarina

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