WILMINGTON—They’re tiny, but they’re mighty. Though Wilmington is the Venus flytrap’s hometown, the plant is still an enigma.
For those who want to learn more about the carnivorous plant, the 8th annual Flytrap Frolic is this weekend, and its free of charge.
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Held at the Stanley Rehder Carnivorous Garden, the Flytrap Frolic is an educational event geared toward families.
“As far as we can tell it’s the only public carnivorous plant garden where you can find flytrap plants growing in a native habitat,” Stephanie Borrett, spokeswoman for the Coastal Land Trust, said.
Borrett said the event is designed to be interactive, featuring face-painting, an interactive touch box activity, as well as educators on the site. She said it will serve as a celebration of all things flytrap.
“While they are able to grow in other places, every flytrap in the world started out related to a plant that is native to here,” Borrett said.
Flytraps — grown in a cultivated, controlled setting — will be available for $5 for the first 100 interested buyers.
Borrett’s favorite thing about the formidable flytrap? Its ability to lend humans a life-lesson.
“If a bug gets stuck in a flytrap, if it would just stay still it would open up and let it out,” she said. “The more it struggles the faster the flytrap will digest it.”
The event will be held April, 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you can’t make it, Borrett said the Stanley Rehder Carnivorous Garden — a city of Wilmington park — is open 365 days a year from dawn until dusk.
For more information on the Flytrap Frolic, visit Coastal Land Trust’s website.
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Johanna Ferebee can be reached at johanna@localvoicemedia.com or @j__ferebee on Twitter
