A Carnivorous Plant Fair full of mini-monsters has kicked off at the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah, giving visitors the chance to meet plants of the meat-eating variety.
The fair gives visitors a peek at some of the quirkiest plants around - complete with a plant sale where guests can bag their very own carnivorous plant to take home and a mini exhibit curated by one of the world’s leading carnivorous plant experts, Greg Bourke.
“Carnis are the oddities of the plant world, they can survive in low nutrient soil with a ‘diet’ of insects and even rats,” said Mr Bourke (curator manager of the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah).
“They lure and ensnare their prey with traps, some of which can fire open and shut as quickly as within one two-hundredth of a second. That’s faster than you can blink.”
“These plants have such charm about them and they are increasingly becoming recognised as a critical part of our natural ecosystem. Australia has some 235 native carnivorous plant varieties, but people still know so little about them.
“So drop by, browse the collections and get involved with this special event. What better way to learn about these voracious little beasts living in our own backyard?”
Join the Carnivorous Plant Fair fun with:
Dinner Time Doom (January 13, 20 and 27). Just for kids, this fun adventure uncovers how carnivorous plants lure and eat their prey. Includes games and a pet ‘carni’ to take home.
Another reason to visit Mt Tomah gardens at the moment, the exquisite puya is in flower and will be until mid-January. With two- to three-metre tall spikes covered in bright turquoise blossoms, these exotic flowers from Chile only bloom once at the end of their seven-year life cycle.
The Buzz on Native Bees (January 21) Learn about the wonderful native bees and how to attract them to your garden.
Mountain Explorers (until February 28). An adventurous, kid-friendly self-guided garden tour. Follow a map to find five trail stops with fun hands-on activities.
February will also include a bird walk and talk with Carol Probets on February 11 and the Mountain Treasures Exhibition continues until February 26.
