Over the weekend, my kids and I got an early peek at a new exhibit, “Savage Gardens: The Real and Imaginary World of Carnivorous Plants”, opening soon at the San Antonio Botanical Garden.
Carnivorous plants make the most of their nutrient-poor environments by turning to another food source: insects. Each different species has its own tricks for luring and trapping bugs.
The “Savage Gardens” exhibit has live carnivorous plants (we saw a pitcher plant, nepenthes), gizmos such as a spinning wheel with carnivorous plant facts, and monumental sculptures. The pitcher plant sculpture is large enough to walk inside. The venus flytrap (dionaea) sculpture moves: tap a button twice (to simulate triggering two hairs), and a trap snaps shut. The trumpet plant (sarracenia) sculptures are tall and beautiful in their garden settings; the sundew (drosera) sculpture is eerily attractive.
On opening day, June 29, 2013, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the garden will offer special activities, including:
- Venus flytrap presentation and feeding (10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. & 1:30 p.m.)
- Monster plant obstacle course
- Plant a sundew
- Venus flytrap puppets
- Carnivorous plants mind puzzles
UPDATED: The exhibit runs through December 31, 2013 (extended from December 1).
Did you know that you get a dollar off admission to the San Antonio Botanical Garden by showing your San Antonio Public Library card?
Or, buy a Broadway Reach pass ($44 adults, $22 children) and get admission to the San Antonio Botanical Garden and six other member institutions for a week. “Broadway Reach announced; discounted joint tickets now available”, Sarah Tressler, San Antonio Express-News, June 5, 2013; “Broadway Reach Launches Cultural, Creative Corridor”, Iris Dimmick, Rivard Report, June 5, 2013; “Visit Seven Cultural Institutions With One Pass On ‘Broadway Reach'”, Eileen Pace, Texas Public Radio, June 5, 2013; and, my earlier post.
Do you remember the dinosaurs exhibit they had last year? Here’s my earlier post about that one.
