Rare corpse flower getting ready to bloom
Rare corpse flower getting ready to bloom
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — An Indonesian flower famous for its foul odor is expected to unfurl its putrid blossom within the next week at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
The school’s greenhouse will be open to the public during the one-day blooming of the so-called corpse flower.
Unlike other flowers that rely on bees for pollination, this one counts on flies. It attracts them with the smell of rotting flesh, and they in turn spread its sticky pollen.
Its nauseating scent comes from two sulfur-producing chemicals within its leaves.
The UCSB plant is 4 feet tall and growing rapidly. A live webcam of the plant can be found on the school’s website.
Detroit suburb wild about pig sculpture
GARDEN CITY, Mich. — A Detroit suburb is getting ready to go hog wild to celebrate the return of a prominent, plump pig sculpture to its downtown.
The Garden City Downtown Development Authority has announced that a Friday celebration will mark the return of “Willy the Pig.”
A community art fundraiser will feature pork sliders and a pig-calling contest. A showing of the talking-pig movie “Babe” is on the agenda.
The centerpiece of activities is to be a 7 p.m. unveiling of the newly cast sculpture.
A shiny, red sculpture titled “Cochon Rouge” by artist Sophie Marie was stolen last year. It was found missing three hooves and a snout 35 miles northwest of Detroit.
By wire sources