Good Blog

In addition to the webcam,  the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has created a blog, Blogging the Burgeoning Titan, to document the blooming of the Amorphophallus titanum (corpse flower). The blog's written by the the flower's chief caretaker who is also the BBG's plant propagator, and it's a fascinating look behind the scenes of this rare blooming. Here's an excerpt from one of my favorite posts titled Part 2: After so much TLC, it's time for sex:

The most exciting moment of the day was undoubtedly the hand-pollination of Baby. It was another panicky moment for me, for a number of reasons: 1) once again, I was on camera; 2) I was standing face down on top of the best stink machine Mother Nature ever created (up close, the titan still had some strong residual odor); 3) I had never pollinated anything with a paintbrush attached to the top of a long stick before; and 4) from a botanical stand point, I was facilitating a public sex act.

Nevertheless everything went smoothly. I handled the stick well, delivered a generous amount of pollen (kindly donated by Virginia Tech), and managed not to fall in. I just hope the timing was right, that the female flowers were ready to receive the pollen, and—most importantly—that I placed the stuff on the right spot.