Dionaea muscipula and victim

But I think this mouse will survive survive. He looks a lot more intelligent than the cat!

Cat and Mouse

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Dionaea muscipula (Venus Fly Trap)

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Carnivorous plants

Some of the Sarracenias (Pitcher plants) are actually hardy in the UK so I decided to create a bog container so that I can group them together. If successful I’ll create smaller container gardens for the non hardy plants so that these can be moved under cover in cold weather. The problem is where to put this large  container which will stay outdoors permanently? My garden is not known for empty spaces. Luckily my pond clearing of a few days ago gave me the answer. I had a small container pond from which I had removed a Water lily and a  grass so that I could transfer them into the main pond. The container pond was now empty so I decided to replace it with a new container for the Sarracenias.

Old container pond and new replacement pot

Like the old pond the new container is partly sunk in the ground to keep it cool. Luckily it was much the same size so n0 extra digging was required. The pot has no drainage holes to allow it to remain very boggy. I filled it with 1 1/2 parts spagnum moss peat to 1 part silver sand mixed with sandy grit. This was mixed in a wheelbarrow along with lots of rainwater till the mixture was soaked. I filled the new pot and left it overnight. Of course it  it rained heavily so the peat mixture was thoroughly wet and gloopy by morning.

New carnivorous garden

Have you tried planting in very, very wet peat? It’s like trying to dig a hole in the sea. I developed a technique of digging a hole very fast and then dropping the plant in it before it filled back up with what looked like soup. Finally I managed to get the Sarracenias  planted. The surface should soon grow a covering of green moss, given time. I am sure the plants feel better for having their roots in a bog and it should be cooler for them if we have a hot summer (She says hopefully!).

Carnivorous garden planted up with Sarracenias

I’m hoping the new garden will encourage the plants to grow more pitchers and the sunny position should encourage richer colours. Sarracenias are indigenous to the wet lands of thr South-eastern coastal plains  of the USA, from Louisiana up to North Carolina. I find them attractive though some people are put off by their insect eating habits. I must say they have a certain subliminal “aliveness” which is not apparent in many other plants.

The hood above the pitcher provides a landing area for insects. They are attracted to the colouration and to the nectar glands which are scattered over it. The insect then flies underneath where it senses more nectar is available.

The hood of Sarracenia hybrid (5)

Under the hood is the pitcher. The roll around the top contains a large concentration of  nectar glands with drops of nectar making the area at the top of the picture slippery for insects. Some research has suggested that the nectar may have narcotic properties, drugging the insect to make it more vulnerable. All Sarracenias have downward pointing hairs inside their trumpets, leading the insect  further inside but making it hard for them to climb back out. The further inside the trumpet the insect goes the more it comes into contact with digestive juices. Eventually it falls to the bottom of the pitcher and is consumed. Like a spider the plant simply sits there waiting for its meal to arrive.

Sarracenia hybrid (5), pitcher entrance

The Sarracenia below is shorter and less upright. Unlike the one above its hood stands vertical allowing water to collect in the pitcher. Visiting insects fall into the water and drown. The water is mixed with digestive juices so you can guess what comes next.

Sarracenia purpurea ssp. purpurea

Here is a good view of the downward pointing hairs that prevent some insects from climbing back out.

Sarracenia purpurea ssp. purpurea

Not all insects succumb. Some wasps are strong enough to chew a hole and escape while  bees have been seen cleaning slippery areas inside the pitcher, allowing them to gain footholds and climb out. Other forms of wild life use the plants to their advantage.  Small organisms live in the water held in the trumpets above for example. I have also seen small spiders spin webs at the top of the pitchers and catch some of the smaller insects as they arrive.

I think they are fascinating and beautiful plants, though rather unsettling at times.

Next is a small tree, Cercis siliquastrum. The flowers appear before the leaves and are virtually without stems, so seem to sprout directly from the branches and trunk which looks rather incongruous. The tree is spectacular in full bloom as the pink is very intense.

Finally we have Akebia quinata, a climbing plant with dark red flowers that smell of chocolate. It is very attractive but does tend to rampage, climbing to over 10 feet. Once fully established it puts out very long horizontal runners across the ground. These then root at intervals. Give it a tree or large shrub to climb up and it’s in heaven. The flowers look like little space ships with four legs for landing. Or is that just me?

The reason I’m taking the photographs today is that I’m about to go on holiday for a week so there will be a blogging lull. I hope it’s sunny in St. Ives so I can have a paddle in the sea. Art, sculpture and gardens – perfect!

They don’t need feeding and as long as they stand in rainwater (or soft water) they are happy. Many like sun though a few like some shade. They all gain their nourishment from catching insects. Surprisingly the plants cannot obliterate all the members of the insect kingdom that they come in contact with. For example, new growth on pitcher plants can be damaged by greenfly – would you believe it!. Sometimes I think aphids lead a charmed life. Other insects are more susceptible to the lethal temptations that the plants can offer.

A Venus Fly Trap has caught a hoverfly. Each trap opens and closes about three times before it dies off. This is why they should never be needlessly provoked into closing by poking them with a pencil etc – I know, I know, we’ve all done it as children. Now we must restrain ourselves.

All carnivorous plants can survive on very few insects but they don’t refuse any that fall into their various traps. Not all small creatures are victims. Some actually utilise the plants to catch prey for themselves. Here a spider has webbed over a pitcher to catch insects before they fall into the trumpet. Neat!

Some of the plants can be troubled by snails. In this picture one has eaten its way inside and apparently fallen asleep. I have seen a wasp fall inside and then eat its way out. Others have not been so lucky. Soon the plants will start flowering and will look even more fascinating.