Skunk cabbage, showing up in southern Ohio
Spring is only 16 days away and if you’ve been longing for sunshine and nice weather, here’s some good news — spring wildflowers have already started to show up in southern Ohio.Keep an eye out for the quintessential first bloomer, skunk cabbage, which is an odorous flower that appears above thawed muck of swamps, seeps and fens.Wildlife officials say skunk cabbage emits a skunky odor when the flowers are crushed.A fun fact about skunk cabbage creates its own heat through cellular respiration and can melt snow and ice.According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, another native wildflower that’s beginning to bloom is harbinger-of-spring. It’s a carrot family member that sends up stalks of flowers and is only a few inches tall.Wildlife officials encourage you to look out for these early bloomers on your next hike as spring approaches.
CINCINNATI —
Spring is only 16 days away and if you’ve been longing for sunshine and nice weather, here’s some good news — spring wildflowers have already started to show up in southern Ohio.
Keep an eye out for the quintessential first bloomer, skunk cabbage, which is an odorous flower that appears above thawed muck of swamps, seeps and fens.
Wildlife officials say skunk cabbage emits a skunky odor when the flowers are crushed.
A fun fact about skunk cabbage creates its own heat through cellular respiration and can melt snow and ice.
According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, another native wildflower that’s beginning to bloom is harbinger-of-spring. It’s a carrot family member that sends up stalks of flowers and is only a few inches tall.
Wildlife officials encourage you to look out for these early bloomers on your next hike as spring approaches.
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