Because glazing of the limery is not complete, if has turned into a trap for flies – despite the huge hole in the door, the flies only seem to be able to get in and not to get out. On the other hand, butterflies and damselflies seem able to exit without a problem. One of the builders noticed the current fly infestation and asked whether I might get some carnivorous plants. It wasn’t something I had planned to do, but I thought it was a good idea. So, without further ado I searched the internet, placed an order and today the limery has seven new occupants:
Dionaea muscipula – Venus flytrap
Dionaea muscipula ‘Akai Ryu’ – Venus flytrap ‘Red Dragon’
Drosera capensis – Cape sundew and Drosera capensis alba – white Cape sundew
Utricularia bisquamata ‘Betty’s Bay’
Sarracenia purpurea venosa
Nepenthes ventricosa x talangensis
One of the sundews has already caught a fly (look closely at the one on the right and you’ll see it), but they have a long way to go yet…
We have glass in the roof (but not the door) and lots and lots of flies
I’m so excited at the prospect of growing these (and other) unusual plants.
The Snail of Happiness 
colorpencil2014
/ July 10, 2015And I would love to hear all about. Tried it so many times and managed to kill more plants than flies…ah well no, but you get the idea! What is a limery? An internet search did not make me any wiser. Have a lovely weekend, Johanna
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 10, 2015The limery is Mr Snail’s name for our new conservatory/plant growing room: https://thesnailofhappiness.com/2015/05/30/limery-peppery-kumquatery/
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nanacathy2
/ July 10, 2015Well what a clever idea if it works. We get more than a few flies on account of the free range chicken farm a quarter of a mile away. It would beat having to watch Mr E stalking flies swat in hand!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 10, 2015I think they’d explode if they managed to catch all the flies that are currently in there (thanks, I think to the cows in the field just behind the garden). Anyway, I thought it would be a fun thing to try.
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arlingwoman
/ July 10, 2015Had no idea you coud buy them on the Internet. Years ago, we found a colony of fly eating plants with trumpet like flowers along Little River in Alabama. Yours look quite spectacular. I’m sure they’ll make short work of the flies.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 10, 2015I think you can buy anything on ebay!!
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katechiconi
/ July 10, 2015I wonder if it’s possible to get carnivorous plants large enough to deal with 4″ grasshoppers…? Perhaps not. I’ll leave them for the eventual arrival of our chickens.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 10, 2015There are some really huge Nepenthes, but I don’t think even they could manage that much grasshopper!!
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katechiconi
/ July 10, 2015I will place my trust in the chooks. Sadly, they won’t be allowed on the back porch, which is where the grasshoppers do most damage to the things in pots.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 10, 2015Apparently this one can catch rats, so your grasshoppers would be no problem: http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8195000/8195029.stm The chooks might not be safe, though!
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ceramicssing
/ July 10, 2015Hi this is Joanna, how are you? I have made your buttons. Sorry they are so late. I have had a lot of family problems. Anyway, if you don’t want them or don’t like them there is no obligation to buy. All the best Thanks Joanna
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 10, 2015I’d still love them… I’ll send you an e-mail and we can sort things out x
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thecontentedcrafter
/ July 10, 2015Well, there’s an odd event that has sent you swinging off in a new direction….. the limery has already influenced your growing decisions and might be just the right climate for a healthy colony of fly-eaters. They are such odd plants and have always vaguely scared me. I had a friend who got a couple once, many years ago now, to reduce her fly population and all the flies just up and left and her plants died of starvation. 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 10, 2015He he… well if the flies disappear I won’t complain! I’m trying, at the moment, to be completely open to new ideas rather than following a specified path… I wonder where it will take me!
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thecontentedcrafter
/ July 10, 2015Isn’t that exciting! Love that thought!
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narf77
/ July 10, 2015I love the look of the Nepenthes ventricosa x talangensis. I envy you your Nepenthes ventricosa x talangensis.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 12, 2015I just hope it survives!
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anne54
/ July 11, 2015They are magnificent! How do the purple and yellow ones trap their prey? I have seen all the other species, and so understand them, but not those.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 11, 2015The purple and yellow ones only catch tiny insects in the soil, so really they won’t do me any good! Their common name is ‘bladderwort’ and they have little bladder-shaped insect traps beneath the soil. This plant was included in the “package” with the others… I rather like the tiny snap-dragon flowers.
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Wild Daffodil
/ July 11, 2015Adventures in exotic horticulture begin!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 12, 2015I’m not sure that I’m sufficiently obsessive to give them the care they need! Anyway, it will be a fun experiment. Apparently, the main thing they need is light and I have that in abundance!
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gentlestitches
/ July 12, 2015That was really interesting. Your post made me wonder if there is a mosquito eating plant. I also enjoyed your link re new species identified in the Philippines. I have work to do but it must wait while I google…..hee hee. 😀
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 12, 2015I bet the sundews would love mosquitoes.
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gentlestitches
/ July 12, 2015ps. Have your read “The signature of all things by Elizabeth Gilbert?” I really enjoyed reading about the heroines work on mosses. 😀
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 12, 2015No I haven’t… I’ll have to check that out (I used to work on mosses myself)
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Lori Fontanes
/ July 12, 2015Great (organic) idea! Wonder if they eat mosquitoes?
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 12, 2015I’m sure they do – they are wetland plants in general.
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Lori Fontanes
/ July 13, 2015Oooo, I’ve been dreaming of a carnivorous plant solution all morning. Will have to work on that. 🙂 Thx for the tip!
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writinghouse
/ July 13, 2015I don’t believe it – the Venus Flytrap has eaten my ham and cheese sandwich!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 13, 2015I told you not to feed it cheese!
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writinghouse
/ July 13, 2015It overpowered me!
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