Chomp! May 4, 2007

San Francisco’s Conservatory of Flowers turns into a garden of deadly delights with this monster of a carnivorous plant exhibition

This summer, San Francisco’s Conservatory of Flowers becomes a Little Shop of Horticultural Horrors with a frightfully fun exhibition of carnivorous plants called “Chomp!” Visitors enter The Big Bog, a swampy paradise for meat-eating plants like the statuesque white trumpets of the American Southeast, the sinister pitcher plants of Borneo and the glistening sundews of South Africa. The extraordinary beauty and diversity of species on display will dazzle even the most squeamish. Visitors also get a bug’s eye view of a few of these peckish plants to investigate the wide range of trapping strategies such as the famous spring trap of the Venus flytrap, pitfall traps, flypaper traps and even suction traps. The Flytrap Theater features daily volunteer-led demonstration “feedings” and plant dissections. Family-oriented investigation stations with magnifying lenses and a special scavenger hunt activity help children to learn why and how these plants capture prey to get their nutritional needs met. So, don’t miss this summer’s most fatal attraction – Chomp!

WHAT: Chomp! – a special exhibition of carnivorous plants featuring living plants and activities for families

WHEN: May 4 – November 4, 2007

Closed Mondays.

TIME: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays – Sundays

WHERE: Conservatory of Flowers, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco 94118

TICKETS: $5 general; $3 youth 12-17, seniors and students with ID; $1.50 children 5-11, children 4 and under FREE

INFORMATION: www.conservatoryofflowers.org, 415-666-7001

Official Website: http://www.conservatoryofflowers.org