A carnivorous plant garden is not a horror movie in miniature. It is a wetland problem solved by leaves. Venus flytraps, sundews, and pitcher plants still photosynthesize. They still need light more than drama. What makes them strange is that they evolved in places where the soil gives very little back. The United States Botanic Garden summarizes the basic rule…
Read more about Carnivorous plant gardening: growing a small bog that works
The most convincing alien garden is usually made from earthly plants. A pitcher plant can look like a creature. Sea holly can look forged from blue metal. Some succulents make tight geometric rosettes; allium seed heads hover like little satellites; cardoon, yucca, contorted willow, and blue fescue can all look briefly as if they have arrived from another atmosphere. The…
Read more about Alien-looking plants that still belong in real soil
