The nationally traveling exhibit Savage Gardens, the newest attraction at The North Carolina Arboretum, opened up on Memorial Day weekend and has been inviting visitors to explore an up-close view of carnivorous plants.
“It gives the opportunity to draw in people who may not always be interested in plants,” says Whitney Rigsbee, marketing and public relations manager for the Arboretum.
The exhibit includes interactive learning experiences such as a twist on the game Operator, a spinning wheel of plant information and two mechanical Venus flytraps. Outside the main exhibit, a small greenhouse holds some of the carnivorous plants that the exhibit features.
One of the most popular aspects of the exhibit is the statue of the North American pitcher plant that sits out in the lawn, Rigsbee says. She adds that the statue and the exhibit’s other interactive features are especially popular with kids.
Attendees may also request a tour of the Arboretum’s main greenhouse, which includes a larger selection of carnivorous plants. Carnivorous plants are native to the North America region, Rigsbee says, so this exhibit will help people be able to identify these plants when out in nature.
Savage Gardens was created by Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Columbus, Ohio, and Tork, Inc. The exhibit runs at the Arboretum, located at 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, until Sept. 7, and is free with admission.
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