One of every naturalist's favorite winter activities, yours truly included, is to search the bleak and seemingly lifeless landscape for signs of an early return of the growing season. So we're out seeking such stalwarts as the first stoneflies, crane flies, snow fleas, hardy moths, and even hardier migrating birds. Maybe they're harbingers... maybe they're just gamblers with great and, more than occasionally, soon-to-be thwarted great expectations. One of the main players in this unfolding drama is that malodorous plant known as the Skunk Cabbage. Inside their little protective and, it turns out, well-insulated hoods that botanists call spathes are plant heating units that can bring the temperature to near 70 degrees and, quite amazing for a plant, keep it close to constant. But the heater isn't on yet, and probably won't be cranking for at least another month. For now, we're in waiting mode.