Throwback Thursday: An Old Field Trip to See VFTs

Venus Flytraps at Carolina Beach State Park

When I was much younger, I stopped by Carolina Beach State Park after learning that it was possible to see Venus Flytraps (Dionaea muscipula) there. After a few minutes of searching, I found a few and snapped these photos. These photos aren't as good as the ones obtained on my later trip to the park, but I've always treasured them as some of the first I took of carnivorous plants in the wild.

Venus Flytraps at Carolina Beach State Park

One of the sad things about my later visit was that there seemed to be a decline in the number of Venus Flytraps at the park. Unfortunately, that was probably due to poaching. I'm hoping that the park can hold on to these plants long-term, as it is one of the few, well-known and accessible places to see them in the wild.