After I published my recent blog post about Bonsai Magic, a lady named Renee emailed and asked if I’d like to visit her nursery in Houghton. The nursery is called Jozi Carnivores.
Carnivorous plants. Plants that murder stuff. Yaaaaassssssss. Renee didn’t have to ask me twice.
Here’s a question that just popped into my head: If a human vegetarian eats a carnivorous plant – a plant that eats animals – is the vegetarian still a vegetarian? Discuss.
Anyway. I’ve always been fascinated by venus fly traps. This is the species we all think about when we hear the term “carnivorous plant” – a plant with prickly little trap-like hands that clamp shut around their prey.
But actually, there are lots of other different kinds of carnivorous plants that murder and consume their food in various horrific ways. All of them are fascinating.
The American trumpet pitcher, for example, lures insects to its “trumpet” with sweet-smelling nectar. The insect slips and falls down the long, skinny plant shaft and gets trapped in a pool of water, eventually dying of dehydration or exhaustion. Then the plant secretes a fluid that liquefies and digests the dead insect.
American trumpet pitchers don’t only eat insects. They can also consume slugs. And (gulp) snails.
Renee loves her carnivores. She calls them “my little killers”.
I like Renee’s story because it reminds me of my own. Just as I never set out to be a blogger, Renee never set out to be a carnivorous plant breeder. She didn’t study botany or anything to do with gardening. It just happened.
A few years ago, Renee bought a Venus fly trap for her daughter. They became fascinated with the plant and wanted to buy it a “friend”. (Carnivorous plants, I suppose because the way they eat is more relatable to humans, seem to be more easily personified than non-carnivorous plants.)
Renee struggled to find a friend for her Venus fly trap in Joburg. So she traveled to the Western Cape and bought a whole load of carnivorous plants from a nursery down there. After various frustrations and experimentations, she figured out how to house and grow the plants properly. She started selling her killers at various events, and hosting groups of school kids interested in learning about the plants. Kids love carnivorous plants and Renee loves kids.
Thus, Jozi Carnivores was born.
Renee grows beautiful little killers. And she loves them.
A tropical pitcher plant. I want to make an inappropriate comment about what this plant reminds me of. But I won’t.
I happened to visit Jozi Carnivores on Valentine’s Day. So Renee gave me (and my colleague Marie-Lais, who also came) a Valentine’s fly trap.
A murderous plant seemed like a totally appropriate Valentine’s gift this year.
I love my little killer too.
Contact Jozi Carnivores at +27-82-856-9876 orjozicarnivores@gmail.com.
How have I never blogged about 44 Stanley Avenue, the coolest shopping and dining complex in Joburg, which is only five minutes from my house?
I guess it’s wrong to say I’ve never blogged about 44 Stanley; I’ve mentioned it countless times over the years (see here and here) when writing about specific restaurants or shops that are there. But I’ve never written a dedicated post about 44 Stanley as a destination and it’s about time I did – especially now, with the holidays upon us.
I’ve been dreadfully uninspired lately, struggling to think of anything I want to blog about despite having a long list of great ideas (many of which you, my readers, provided in September). I’m finding it hard to feel positive about life at the moment. But on Saturday Thorsten and I got the chance to visit Indwe Park, an indigenous garden and sculpture park in Braamfontein, and I knew I had my topic for today.
In 2020, I published a blog post with tips for Americans living in South Africa who wanted to vote in the U.S. presidential election. I thought about simply resharing that post this year. But then I realized: 1) I want to write a U.S. election post that will be fun and informative for everyone, not just other Americans; and 2) Believe it or not, the U.S. presidential election stakes are even higher in 2024 than they were in 2020. So I’m introducing you to some really cool Americans in Joburg – one who I’ve known forever and two who I just met – and tell you a bit about who they are, why they live here, and why they vote.
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It makes me smile, when I see it.