What better way to enjoy Halloween in Sonoma County than to take the kids to California Carnivores, the largest retail carnivorous plant nursery in the United States. We took our grandkids this summer, and were blown away by the alien-like plants housed in a large greenhouse in Sebastopol that doubles as a carniverous plant museum.
The front of the 11,000-square foot space is set up as a miniature jungle infested with man-eating plants and creepy crawlies.
But the back of the store is where the truly creepy creatures live. Room after room were filled with pots of some of the craziest plants we've ever seen.
California Carnivores owner Peter D'Amato has been raising carnivorous plants for 40 years and opened the nursery/museum in 1989. On the day we were there, we met general manager Damon Collingsworth, who bought his first carnivorous plant from D'Amato in 1988 and was a friendly, walking encyclopedia on these hungry creatures. He helped us choose our first bug-hungry collection, which found a home at Gantz Family Vineyards and helps our dog, Jake, control the pests on our property.
California Carnivores will be a go-to spot to visit when guests come to town!
---------------------------------------------------------------
Check out the creepiest plants you've ever seen at California Carnivores!
- 2833 Old Gravenstein Highway, Sebastopol, CA 95472
- Or order online: www.californiacarnivores.com
- Purchase their book, "The Savage Garden" by Peter D'Amato