Buffalo has plenty of natural wonders to experience right in our own backyard. From Niagara Falls to Letchworth and beyond, the 716 isn't lacking in great places to explore! While most natural wonders are stationary in nature, there is one that you have to catch at exactly the right time to see (and smell). Read on to learn more about the fleeting natural wonder in Buffalo you need to see before it's too late.
Normally, we'd be pretty offended if someone said the Botanical Gardens stinks.
But in this case, I guess we'll let it slide! Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens is expecting their stinkiest resident to bloom soon.
Visit the gardens at 2655 South Park Ave.
"Morty," as the plant is lovingly referred to, is a corpse flower, and its name is fitting once you've smelled Mort's stench!
Corpse flowers are the second largest flower in the world, and while they're native to the rainforest, Morty has fit in quite nicely at home in Buffalo.
Corpse flowers typically bloom every 7-10 years, but Morty is set to bloom earlier than expected this summer!
Staff at the Botanical Gardens have been keeping an eye on this fleeting natural wonder and they're estimating the corpse flower will bloom again in a matter of weeks.
When it blooms, thousands will flock to Buffalo to get a whiff of it.
True to their monikers, corpse flowers smell like rotting flesh for 24-48 hours after they have reached full bloom. It sounds odd (and a little creepy), but the rarity and weirdness of such a natural phenomenon draws in curious minds.
The last time Morty bloomed at the Buffalo Botanical Gardens, they set a record attendance.
Nearly 5,000 people visited the gardens to see this fleeting natural wonder in action back in 2004. The gardens are expecting a similar turnout this year!
Corpse flowers are rarely seen in captivity. But the Botanical Gardens in Buffalo have provided Morty with a great environment to thrive.
Blooming years ahead of schedule is evidence that even stinky plants love living in Buffalo!
The corpse flower is currently standing at around three feet tall, but once it reaches full bloom, it'll be taller than an NBA player!
Morty reached 7 feet 8 feet the last time this flower bloomed. If its height doesn't take you by surprise, the strength of its stench certainly will! Be prepared!
You can learn more about the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, including hours and admission fees, on their website here. Keep up to date on Morty's bloom by following along on Facebook and @mortystinks on Twitter!
Did you make a trip to the Botanical Gardens to see this fleeting natural wonder the last time it bloomed? Share your memories, photos, and descriptions of the stink with us in the comments below!
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