A rare sight: Fester the corpse flower shows off giant bloom at Franklin Park Zoo
The last time Fester bloomed was back in 2014.
It’s been about six years since his last bloom, and for Fester the giant corpse flower at the Franklin Park Zoo, this weekend it was time.The giant, smelly plant, one of four of its kind at the zoo, produces a rare, massive bloom usually only once every four to 10 years, according to Britannica. Once it does bloom, it’s very short lived — the bloom only lasts between 24 and 48 hours, the zoo said in a news release. Blooms can be as big as 9 feet high and 6 feet wide.This isn’t the first time Fester has taken center stage — he bloomed back in 2012 and again in 2014, the release said. Situated along the zoo’s Outback Trail, Fester is the only one of the zoo’s four on display to the public.Officially known as Amorphophallus titanum or titan arum, the plant is called the corpse flower for the unique odor it produces, described as “a very pungent aroma like that of a rotting carcass,” according to the zoo. The plant grows more quickly once it is about to bloom, sometimes 4 to 5 inches each day. Sumatra is where the plants originally began to grow.Fester officially started blooming on Saturday, the zoo’s Facebook page shows. Just before he entered the blooming period, the plant stood at 63 inches tall, two inches taller than what it measured on Friday.
https://www.facebook.com/franklinparkzoo/posts/10157403024576989
Zoo officials have been watching Fester’s progress and sharing updates on social media. Days before he began to bloom, staff decorated Fester’s display area. Red curtains with black ties framed his enclosure and a cloth with skulls was draped around his massive pot, adding to the macabre feel that comes along with a name like corpse flower.
https://www.facebook.com/franklinparkzoo/photos/a.412729391988/10157390146591989/?type=3&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAaELlqyeaoYBWtByU_jYvv0UsvVMzeUPsZW2M5-Z-735lxYNsPyuRNvg6k9jlfYJ8Tah_V6Ss7P_GTaVAq2EqqBU-frN7xeGauh70gfsAUD5-iT1R6vE20W9DCUb7nVWorG1nqxzmYtub20AQVA5z5GcUnoaooFSEcdHYfPhGbTG7Q5vwff3gJOxmCnhh7wctYatnqbfnfO884CwpaqTNouFfB6ypBhy0k–OsuyeAeRaaSbVLp0a0VolnH9TBQBcLA1RsUh9NvEQ4S563Vn-sKxDjm7onu2DnyPaEy9j0eKTB6A5wW8cB55eX6JplHKwQ-3kWhup4O8wbUA&__tn__=-R
Fester attracted groups of visitors on Sunday — the zoo allowed people to buy tickets online with mandated time slots, and photos show people lining up, socially distanced, to get a closer look.
https://www.facebook.com/franklinparkzoo/photos/a.69379251988/10157403927906989/?type=3&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARD9XSJ5lvL-3btEJM2UvOMjQoc7a4ZLRPYGLZnOaJU3VWxnScT-wYWi8iU4YFzgzfn-r14MMB97IInT-BSOxY58Nao2BHIQJLW-gnEZ2AltVYI4d5Q6m4b2k_JGVs6CVlmSxdvjP_CYDW8Nz1j9zTuAocIEfzSVt90q6s-Pax9mMbshjXfsgC9ioU9iDruYR3yfz08QMQsXPnvNNBczGOC7YzpEhvq4ZjTXwZy0aR9AAgUWfe-p5-uBKNXoaTEvKf_ID5f8K3LwI8tYGk0p5OYQ7Oxs4nsJ-fD43RghpOwNIqNTj0wyt8NIZiSAsdx4QH7iQmvJ-aMiZ3F7zg&__tn__=-R
Fester was still blooming as of Monday morning, but the zoo noted that he “may be nearing the end” of this rare feat.
https://www.facebook.com/franklinparkzoo/photos/a.412729391988/10157405904726989/?type=3&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARBYc9B5XtClxgWtSvnOujdcysToFbPGRLALfPs8lJ-dWnK0OEokVJHlAevSjpsfC-QNHb2hayeubiqI_oKMgoy6KBgCrM-BJ-nGElsinHU7r7WtcEhP0dlb6kSXo0Y2xQAxFA1NJyWVul4fLq23J0BxNdasx5YuXDMi6G1L06KSIxj6SziPWrZaIsTltitj_gCedgXPXRBmk_PGYvtJndyGuu3lPT1srrEUXMHD0ByewmhgJt43Myvv3qt4rj4YB_Jr0uMP6OSUVzDgvjq4E_RM3dt0R4xsOsNgSR7wpESCLU5IV2rgUnTurgE2cJ8qQEbbQ02O6Yl0JeiNCg&__tn__=-R
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