If Trilliums have religious meaning to some....what is God's intent with Skunk Cabbage??? One of the two people that went with me on Monday's hike was from Australia and had never heard of this flower. She has never smelled a skunk before either. About halfway on this 2 mile hike is a classic Pacific NW swamp. We caught these early in the season, too, and they didn't have their signature fragrance yet. I would have loved her to get a sample sniff. These flowers are the first of the season with many more on the way. I'm coming back to this place in 2 weeks to get more photos when they, (along with the Trilliums), are taller and more plentiful. (I wish my Australian friend would be here then, but she will be heading home soon.) You haven't lived until you get a whiff of Skunk Cabbage!!! :)