From Little Shop of Horrors to your elementary science class, almost everyone has heard of the venus flytrap.
What everyone might not have heard, is that they are native to the Carolinas, and grow in only a 100 mile radius from Wilmington. One of the most interesting places in the city is Stanley Rehder Carnivorous Plant Garden and I’m not sure anyone knows it exists, because I was the only one hopping along the pavers inside.
The park is behind Alderman Elementary School, there is a free lot, the path to get into the garden is paved and lined with interesting facts about carnivorous plants.
There is so much to see and to learn here!
Did you know that the plants can go 1-2 months without eating?
They love insect, but my goodness – they can even digest frogs! These plants are so clever they can tell the difference between a meal and a raindrop or a falling leaf.
The iconic venus flytraps aren’t the only game in town. Purple pitcher plants are the most common of carnivorous plants which even grows in the north.
It has a symbiotic relationship with the pitcher plant mosquito, which only breeds in the water it holds. The clever plant sprouts flowers in the spring attracting more insects into the area.
Sundews can live for 50 years and they are found all over the world.
You have to love this plant because it lives on mosquito breeding grounds and feasts on those pests! Carefully walking around the garden you can see all of these plants and more. You can also find them while hiking in the area, but they are small and not always easily seen – so visiting the garden is a sure bet!