Funky-Smelling Corpse Flower Ready to Bloom | Patch PM

Stories to talk about tonight:

Eww, What's That Smell? Corpse Flower to Bloom at the Botanic Garden This Weekend

It's perhaps one of the most disgusting smells on the planet, and people will be lining up to get a whiff this weekend as the aptly named "corpse flower" is expected to bloom.

Amorphophallus titanum is a beautiful tropical plant with a not-so-beautiful smell. The plant has a long life cycle that results in a bloom that happens just once ever four to five years, and you'll be able to catch a glimpse at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C., when it is expected to bloom by July 31, according to Smithsonian.com. Or, if you'd rather avoid the smell, you can watch the webcam instead. >>> Read more.

Thousands Sign Up for Massive Pokémon Go Walk on National Mall

It's going to be quite the sight: more than 4,000 people — and perhaps many more than that — all walking around the National Mall in D.C. while playing the new hit mobile game Pokémon Go.

The pokémon trainers will descend on the Jefferson Memorial at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 30, and walk around the National Mall, grabbing as many elusive pokémon as they can. >>> Read more.

HOV Dummy Fails His Mission

• Motorist attempting to get a free ride in the HOV lanes got busted with a fake passenger, according to Fairfax County.

• Restaurant cook told cashier she would not serve police officer, so the officer left, according to a police department spokeswoman.

• Ingmar Guandique was awaiting retrial in the May 2001 murder of Chandra Levy, a 24-year old intern who disappeared while jogging.

Patch PM shares a few of the day’s must-read items from our Va. and D.C. networks. The Patch community platform covers communities across the area.