Recorded history proves people have long been mesmerized by carnivorous plants.

For example, in 1875, Charles Darwin published a book called Insectivorous Plants in which he carefully chronicled his experiments with various carnivorous plants. Darwin was so enamored by these species, he remarked, “I care more about Drosera than the origin of all the species.”

Drosera, also known as Sundew, is going to be one of the highlights of Franklin Park Conservatory’s newest exhibit, Savage Gardens.
The exhibit opens on July 10 and runs through November.

Coming on the heels of the magnificent Chihuly exhibit, Savage Gardens is a never-before-seen exhibit developed completely by the conservatory’s team of artists and botanists. The objective is to showcase this unusual species of plants through live plant displays, interactive components, art and humor in ways that appeal to visitors of all ages.

Native to the bogs and swamps of the Eastern Carolinas, the Venus flytrap will also be included in the Bog Garden of live plants as part of Savage Gardens. Additionally, it will be the subject of one of the four large-scale sculptures made specifically for the exhibit.

All of the sculptures were made by Tork Studios in Columbus.

“Visitors will be able to open and close the jaws of the sculpture,” explains Lori Kingston, marketing director at the conservatory.

Darwin’s favorite Sundew will also be spotlighted with a large-scale sculpture. The piece includes fiber optics to illustrate how the Sundew attracts its prey, according to Kingston. The large-scale sculptures are rounded out by the Nepenthes and the Sarracenia.

“Carnivorous plants have fascinated people for generations, and are an ‘oddity’ in the plant world,” says Kingston. “Their adaptations have fascinated botanists and scientists, and the irony of a plant ‘turning the dinner table’ on insects has captivated the imagination of cartoonists whose humor often is based in such irony.”

Savage Gardens includes a juried art exhibition of works by mixed media artists and a children’s program with related classes and activities.

For more information, visit www.fpconservatory.org.

Wendy Cai is a contributing writer for Luxury Living.

As an added bonus, cartoons from The Ohio State University Cartoon Library will be incorporated into the exhibit. Though cartoons and carnivorous plants may seem like an odd match, a deeper look exposes the connection.