Looking for one last summer getaway before school starts? The San Antonio Botanical Garden has a suggestion to Austinites; go see some carnivorous plants.
"Many of these plants grow in the area where the soil is very poor – so capturing insects is almost like taking a vitamin pill for them," says Sasha Kodet, education director for the San Antonio Botanical Garden.
Carnivorous plants grow in nutrient-poor conditions. While many are from out of state, some are native to Texas: Pale Pitcher plants, Small Butterworts and Sundews.
Studies show more plants might be turning carnivorous.
"It’s not something that one individual plant would all of a sudden change and become meat-eating. But they are some plants that are evolving into that state. We call them murderous plants," Kodet says. She adds that plants turning carnivorous are an adaptation that allows them to survive in extreme conditions.
"The natural ecosystem is struggling," she says. "We really encourage people to plant native plants or plants that are adaptive to our climate so you are not wasting water on plants that otherwise wouldn't do as well here."
The exhibition featuring plants, installations and giant sculptures of carnivorous plants, will be run through Dec 1 at the San Antonio Botanical Garden.
