As I logged on and quickly scanned the headline page I decided to veer off in another direction, like when your on a road trip and you take an unexpected side trip to some goofy attraction that you’ve seen billboards for.

My attention was piqued by a story about an rare plant that emits a foul odor. The plant known as the corpse flower or bunga bangkai is located in a greenhouse in Sydney Australia. The rare instances when it does bloom it emits a putrid smell described as either rotting flesh, garbage or smelly gym socks. Just typing those words causes me to conjure up those smells. If you’ve ever had a teenage boy then I’m sure you’ve experienced the awful smell of socks and shoes, and well who hasn’t gotten close to a dumpster in the middle of summer.

Despite the odor this plant has become a veritable rock star if you will. Thousands of people are lining up to witness or perhaps more likely to smell its presence. In anticipation of the crowds the greenhouse has rolled out the red carpet, no really there is a red carpet for visitors to walk on. The plant is now surrounded by a red velvet rope with a gentle mist and constant temperature enveloping it. Everyday is a spa day for this plant………we should all be so lucky to be occasionally surrounded by a velvet rope with a gentle mist cooling us. Fans visiting the greenhouse have affectionately named the plant Putricia and her followers call themselves Putricians.

Perhaps she deserves this fame as no corpse flower has bloomed at this greenhouse in 15 years. Fans are taking selfies (of course they are) and leaning in for a sniff, and if you can’t make it to Australia this weekend well don’t worry there’s a 24/7 live stream to witness the historic event. As one fan noted….. “I’m sickened and I’m awed”……kinda how I felt smelling my teenage sons gym shoes or when I scan the headlines.

Peace and Love

John