Life Ground Up
Ahhh, spring welcomes the awakening of nature.
This week, in the U.S. at least three rare Titan Arum (Amorphophallus titanum or Corpse Flower) plants have been in bloom. The plant is unique for remaining underground for a few to several years to then form a giant (5-10 ft. or 1.5-3 m high) bloom which smells and generates heat in mimic of rotting flesh. The bloom lasts 3-5 days.
If you are in Ohio visit UConn (Connecticut, OH) and in Minnesota visit Gustavus Adolphus College (Saint Peter, MN). For those in California, you may have missed your chance by now at the UC Davis Botanical Conservatory, but you can still see the time lapse video.

Brood X
Originally uploaded by Zsaj.

In a similar development, the Periodical or 17-year Cidada (Magicicada genus) in Chicagoland are expected to simultaneously come aboveground once the ground temperature warms up to ~63-64°F after 17 year of living underground. They will densely cover the region's foliage. Their predicted date of arrival is evening May 21 and morning May 22.