Botanical Gardens frights & excites with new carnivorous plant, art exhibit: 'Mutation Invasion: Flesh-eating Flora'

Opens Friday the 13th, runs through Halloween

√ First time a carnivorous plant exhibit has taken place at Botanical Gardens; featuring hundreds of carnivorous plants like venus flytraps, pitcher plants, sundews

Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens Press Release and Photos

The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens is preparing to show its brand-new carnivorous plant and art exhibit, “Mutation Invasion: Flesh-eating Flora,” opening Friday, Sept. 13, and on display through Halloween. This is the first carnivorous plant exhibit to take place at the Botanical Gardens featuring hundreds of carnivorous plants with varieties of venus flytraps, sundews, pitcher plants, and more. These flesh-eating plants will be brought up close and personal for visitors to learn about and enjoy. The exhibit is tied together with two special art installations by local artists.

(Submitted photo)

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“Mutation Invasion: Flesh-eating Flora” will give visitors the opportunity to not only learn more about these shocking and interesting plants, but also to go on an exciting and action-packed adventure with the help of a plot-twisting comic strip created by local Buffalo artist Nate Phillips. Through the exhibit, follow the exciting vintage-inspired comic-book story of “Mutation Invasion: Flesh-eating Flora” across a series of large posters. It shares the story of how the Botanical Gardens' carnivorous plants were mutated into even bigger and scarier flesh-eating flora that put the Botanical Gardens’ horticulturists at risk of being eaten alive. They then must band together with an army of pollinators to save the day.

Throughout the exhibit, visitors will enjoy over a dozen larger-than-life, bug-snatching sculptures created by local artist Melanie Fisher (like the one pictured above). From large-scale pitcher plants, to various sized flytraps and many other alien-like creatures, the Botanical Gardens will be temporarily transformed into a scene straight out of a 1950's sci-fi comic.

Adding to the creepy theme of the exhibit will be two corpse plants on display, famously known to the Botanical Gardens as Wednesday and Pugsley, from their family of corpse plants. These plants have just begun to grow and will be on display during the exhibit for visitors to watch and see if they are growing into leaves or stinky flowers.

The exhibit comes at the perfect time to enjoy the spooky season in a unique way that involves creepy creatures, plants, and artwork instead of the typical pumpkin patches, goblins and ghouls. It will be a family-friendly environment with spooky surprises and educational opportunities throughout.

Families will also enjoy a “BOOtanical Costume Party” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26. Visitors are asked to put on their best costumes and enjoy the carnivorous plant exhibit, complete a spooky scavenger hunt, take frightening family photos, and enjoy lots of ghostly games and activities. This Wegmans “Day of Play” is the perfect addition for anyone looking for indoor Halloween happenings. The “BOOtanical Costume Party” is included with regular admission.

The fun continues for the adults at a brand-new cosplay photography night from 4-9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27. Cosplayers and photographers are invited to join forces to create some photography magic inside the lush Botanical Gardens. There will be opportunity to take both daytime photos and evening photos with special lighting effects at night. The carnivorous plant exhibit, “Mutation Invasion: Flesh-eating Flora,” will make for an even more interesting backdrop filled with carnivorous plants and mutated plant sculptures guaranteed to make the perfect cosplay scene. Tickets are $30 per person and guests must be 21 or over to attend.

“Mutation Invasion: Flesh-eating Flora” will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The exhibit is included with regular admission.