The Lovely Sarracenia

Day 261: Despite being desperately in need of repotting, the lovely Sarracenia has put up a single flower this year, gracing my back porch with her beauty while working overtime to reduce the mosquito population. She's an insectivore, one of three "carnivorous" species in my collection. Pitcher Plants are not as delicate as you might think, nor are they tropical as many people suppose. My Sarracenias have survived sub-freezing temperatures with little or no protection, taking some frost nip to their foliage, but coming back from the root the following spring. I bring them inside overnight if temperatures dip into the low 20s. Native to the eastern part of the continent, Sarracenia grows from New England to Florida, across the Gulf States, and in eastern Canada. One population is known to occur in British Columbia. Several varieties are under commercial cultivation, so if you're interested in "carnivorous" plants, check your best local nursery. Never remove plants from the wild.