Thousands line up for hours to see 2 stinky, blooming corpse flowers at The Huntington
SAN MARINO, Calif. -- Two corpse flowers bloomed at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, drawing thousands of visitors willing to wait hours for a glimpse -- and a whiff -- of the rare, short-lived spectacle.
The Huntington said 5,000 people visited on Sunday and expected 7,000 more on Monday. Tickets sold out Monday, and although The Huntington normally closes at 5 p.m., officials promised everyone in line would get a chance to see the two flowers.
“We had a stinky, stinky day,” said Randy Townsend, who viewed the corpse flowers.
SEE ALSO: 2 corpse flowers bloom within hours of each other at The Huntington Library and Gardens
Thousands lined up to see the alien-like flowers on Monday, known for their powerful odor. Some visitors waited more than three hours.
“It was incredible last night. I can't smell very well, but it really stank. Oh my God. I couldn't believe it. Amazing... Yes, it was rough. Two flowers at once, it's a lot,” Townsend said.
Brandon Tam, an associate curator at The Huntington, said visitors have different descriptions of the smell.
“When kids walk in, I love their imagination. They sometimes say it smells like gym socks, it smells like rotten eggs, to me, it smells like a hot dumpster on a summer's day," Tam said. "Very different interpretations of what it smells like. It's great to see little kids come in with a pinched nose expecting a large smell."
This year marks the first time The Huntington has had two corpse flowers blooming at the same time. The bloom began Sunday afternoon and lasts only 24 to 48 hours. It's one of the rarest and shortest-lived spectacles in the plant world.
Since 1999, The Huntington has exhibited 29 corpse flower blooms -- more than any other place in the Western U.S. -- but the library said they have never seen lines like this.
“It's pretty amazing to see this. I've read about it many times. This is the first time I've been able to come by and see it. To have two of them at the same time. That's really special,” said visitor Jerry Paul.
Karen Mitchell said she has been visiting corpse flower blooms at The Huntington for years.
“We are stinky flower diehards, so we have been coming since 1999. This is our fourth viewing in two days. I track it on the live feed,” Mitchell said.
The corpse flower is an endangered plant species with fewer than 1,000 remaining in the wild. It is native to rainforests in Sumatra, Indonesia, and can grow up to 12 feet tall.
“It's beautiful. It's really different from all the other flowers. It's just nature coming to life. And being here, it's awesome,” said Raquel Arboleda of Chino Hills.
