Something Smells!

P  U!  News from Como Zoo is that the Corpse Flower, amorphophallus titanum, is about to bloom again. It has been 3 years since the last event and according the zoo blog is should open sometime between June 26 and July 4. 

If I remember correctly I took my 5 year old nephew Dominick with me when I went to see it. He had no advance warning as Auntie Julie wanted to surprise him with a flower that is supposed to smell like a decomposing mammal or rotting meat.

In case you have not guessed, I am the fun aunt.

By the time we got there it did not smell though it was pretty neat just to see such a large flower. This year we will include my two nieces, Abby who is 8 and Katie who is 6. They arrive in town from Arizona on July 1st and one of the places we always must visit is Como Zoo. Cross your fingers that the really tall, pretty flower, has just bloomed the day we visit!

The last time they were here we had a blast at Como Town in the Splash Zone and Water Wars area which also had some cool ropes to climb around on. This year we will also check out the newest exhibit the Roots, Shoots and Fruits exhibit .

Also, some insider scoop I just received from Caroline Mehlhop, Director of Events and Sponsorships, Como Friends that you may not yet know about, a baby bison was born last Thursday and no one even knew Aunt Bea was pregnant!  

One thing that I learned from Carrie Donovan, Director of Sales, is that Roseville is home to The Ukrainian Gift Shop which is located near Rosedale Center on Fairview Avenue.

The shop is the world’s largest mail order source of pysanky (Ukrainian Easter eggs) & pysanky supplies. The family business was started in 1947 by Marie Procai and her daughter Luba Perchyshyn in Marie’s living room.

Carrie said it is one of the most popular stops for tour buses and if you and your family are interested in viewing what could become a lost art I would encourage you to check out their gift shop.