I took this image several years ago on March 22, 2018 at Millcreek Park in Youngstown Ohio. As you can see Skunk Cabbage grows where its quite wet so its good to have your boots on to take pictures.
Skunk Cabbage has an interesting ability to produce heat that allows it to emerge and bloom even when the ground is quite cold even frozen. The flower buds can warm up to 70 degrees F. which melts the snow around the plant.
Skunk Cabbage emerges starting in late Feb. into March in our area depending on the severity of our winter. The flowers appear before the leaves and have a mottled maroon hood like leaf called a spathe, which surrounds a knob-like structure called a spadix.
This is a six-stack image taken at f-8, at 1/50 sec. ISO 200, -.7 exposure bias. Polarizer on my 200 mm macro lens using a tripod and cable release.
4 comments posted
David Terao
Interesting story about the skunk cabbage. To me, it's not a particularly pretty plant, but maybe to a botanist it is. You captured it well with focus stacking. If this were my image, I would darken the yellowish-brown background a tad to keep one's attention on the skunk cabbage. Posted: 01/06/2025 13:52:06
Diana Duffey
This was a difficult shot, Dick. You captured it well. The upper half of the background is a little bright. I would darken it a bit to make the skunk cabbage pop. Posted: 01/15/2025 01:17:39
Barbara Asacker
Love the shape and curves of the plant. Good perspective. The two flowers appear to be talking to each other. The light is pleasing. Complementary colors add pop. You captured sharp details. I like it. Well done, Dick. Posted: 01/15/2025 15:14:21
Maria Mazo
Hi Dick, this is my first time seeing a sunk cabbage, and I find it really interesting how these plants can generate heat to melt the ice around them, allowing them to grow.
You've captured it beautifully, with plenty of detail and a great colour contrast that separates the plant from the background. One suggestion: a slight darkening of the background could help enhance the subject even more. Posted: 01/20/2025 19:13:35
