Venus Flytrap © Lia Ceccherini/Stella Deer

 

FUN FACT – Venus Flytraps rarely grow more than eight inches tall.

 

Last summer, I headed out to the North Carolina coast to the town of Wilmington & environs for a much needed dose of beach/sun therapy.  My intentions for hitting the road were simple — find the beach, bask in the sun, play in the waves, and ride my vintage beach bike I’d just pulled from the garage after 5 years of it sadly collecting dust.

I’d never been to Wilmington before, and while there I learned a cool fact: the only place in the world where Venus Flytraps still grow naturally within their native environment is within a 100 mile radius of the city.

I camped in a state park that was full of hiking trails – one of them (supposedly) aptly named the “Flytrap Trail.”

 

 

I saw deer tracks.

 

 

And this beautiful carnivorous plant:

 

 

But after a 2 hour hike through the thick humid air, I hadn’t spotted one Venus Flytrap!

Now my trip to Wilmington just wouldn’t be complete without a glimpse of this notorious (and now seemingly elusive) plant itself.

So I did a little more research and discovered another local protected area where they were allowed to grow untamed.

Rock stepping stones formed a pathway across a wet field, full of life.

 

 

This grasshopper immediately alighted on my friend’s hand, as if to welcome us.

 

 

 

When I finally spotted the Flytraps, small and camouflaged as they were amidst the grasses, I was instantly smitten.

 

 

With a quick glance down you’d never even know that they’re there.

 

 

But upon closer inspection, you can see that there are so many of them clustered together!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These unique plants absolutely fascinated me & I couldn’t stop taking pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ominous closed “jaws” of the Flytrap plant:

 

 

Admiring the Flytraps so intimately was like glimpsing into a strange, secret world.

 

 

Aren’t they captivating?

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(Not many people have the opportunity to experience these fascinating plants so up close & personal in their natural habitat, so if you enjoyed these photos feel free to share this post with your friends on social media!

Also, be sure to look for the follow-up next week featuring photos of the other memorizing carnivorous plants that shared this field with the Venus Flytraps.  update: see the follow-up post here )

Now, tell me in the comments below– are you as enamored with these little plants as I am?