The smell of skunk cabbage brings me back to summers as a kid, tearing through the woods with friends, kicking up mud and stomping through those big green leaves. (Apparently no one taught us about “Leave No Trace.”) I don’t think I ever saw skunk cabbage in the spring, although I’m sure I trampled some. Moving back to New England as an adult has brought up so many memories and new perspectives. I tread lighter now. I’m quieter in the woods. I also notice a lot more. And now I know that skunk cabbage looks like THIS before getting big and green. I also just learned that its skunky scent is the result of thermogenesis. Skunk cabbage can produce its own heat, melting the last bit of snow and attracting pollinators in the still-cold early spring. What a cool plant. Hopefully I can make up for some of that stomping by teaching my daughter to explore these woods respectfully. 💚