Shared by Cheryl Crowell, as Guest Blogger.

Ah, to be outdoors in the late winter sunshine, even with a little snow still on the ground spring is starting to creep out and show its stuff. 

Walking down by one of the springs at Sky Meadows State Park with a couple other rangers we found our first skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) sticking up out of the muddy earth, the bright sun showcasing its beautiful purple and green mottling as the blooms push up through last fall’s leaves.

These very early pointed spathes were just cranking up their foul odor, trying to attract carrion loving insects to come and pollinate the large round spadix inside. But the show will be over by April, when the cabbage-like leaves begin to appear.

Mottled purple and green flowers emerge from the leaves and mud when everything is frozen and brown

SPRING VISIT

We invite you to visit the park and see the first signs of emerging spring for yourself. Skunk cabbage is a great plant to introduce kids to botany because it's just so weird. Skunk Cabbage grows in soggy muddy soil along streams, in swamps, and vernal pools, which is another reason that kids of all ages love getting out to look for skunk cabbage.

Come on up to the Park's Visitor Center and we will show you where to look, and you can check out our Woodland Wonders Discovery Pack to guide your exploration of plants at Sky Meadows State Park. 

Spring is a refreshing time of year to get outside and having a goal such as finding skunk cabbage can be just the motivation to get everyone enthused.  

Rangers Vanessa and Cheryl look for Skunk Cabbage, even though it's still chilly out, they were successful!

The cup shaped opening is where the stinky smell comes out and where flies go in to warm up and pollinate the flower 

For this and other outdoor adventures come to Sky Meadows State Park today.

Please contact Sky Meadows State Park's Visitor Center at (540) 592-3556 or email the park here if you have any questions. For directions to Sky Meadows State Park click here, or for information about overnight camping at Sky Meadows click here.