This is called a corpse flower. It's about seven feet tall and it smells of rotting flesh, hence the name, because it uses flies to pollinate. This picture here is when it's open and in bloom, but it only has about a thirty-six hour window before that purple sheath around the phallus in the center wilts. This blooming only occurs once every seven to ten years. So when I got an email from the Botanical Garden that theirs was open today I skedaddled my way over. Apparently everyone else had the same idea because I've never seen the garden this crowded: Forty minutes to get into the greenhouse when usually there's no line at all.

But I was thinking as we waited: Why are we doing this? Why are we coming here, many people probably taking the day off, to look at a single flower that has the fragrant odor of a cadaver? Why would anyone want to see that? Does that say something about humanity? We're willing to travel from all over the city for a glimpse this flower, which we couldn't even get close to because of the pool?

I guess so because it was fucking awesome and I don't regret a single moment of it.