Not Many People Know That A Deadly Garden Is Hiding Right Here In North Carolina

Did you know that the famous carnivorous plant, the Venus Flytrap, only grows in the wild in North Carolina? It's true. And this "deadly" garden in Wilmington is beautiful proof. (Don't worry, it's only deadly to insects... and some other anthropods.) Take a look:

The Stanley Rehder Carnivorous Plant Garden is a .75 acre City of Wilmington Park dedicated to nothing but carnivorous plants, and beauty.

The park is named for local Wimington native, Stanley Render, who passed away in 2012. Known locally as "the Flytrap Man," Rehder was dedicated to preserving the Venus Flytrap.

The Venus Flytrap is perhaps the most famously known of the plant species that trap insects and other anthropods, which they then consume for energy.

The "deadly" plant garden is a wonderful learning tool for kids and adults alike. You'll find helpful information kiosks throughout the space.

Kids and kids at heart love exploring the garden on a variety of walking paths.

Carnivorous plants attract, capture and consume their living prey in a variety of mechanisms.

Pitcher plants trap prey in a rolled leaf that is filled with enzymes that immediately start to break down the unsuspecting prey.

Only two carnivorous plants in the world capture prey in the way in which a Venus Flytrap does.

Dubbed a "snap trap," the trapping mechanism on a Venus Flytrap is known for its rapid movement. The leaves quickly respond and close around its prey. The trap on a Venus Flytrap is also nicknamed a "bear claw," and a "mouse trap."

Now that you know it's here, put this "deadly" little garden park on your bucket list for the very next time you're in, or near, Wilmington.

The Stanley Rehder Carnivorous Plant Garden at Piney Ridge Nature Preserve is located at 3800 Canterbury Rd., Wilmington, NC 28403. The parking area is shown above. It is maintained in a partnership between the City of Wilmington and The NC Coastal Land Trust. Learn more at this link on the official website of the NC Coastal Land Trust.