A Rapacious Appetite
The pitcher plant has been a huge success with a consummate appetite for all flying insects – houseflies and bluebottles are a favourite delicacy.
It has doubled in size since being purchased at Helmingham Hall in May and sent up new shoots to accommodate a feeding frenzy.
It is amazing to believe just how many flies have been caught in our kitchen but you can clearly see the legions that have been swept aside as the translucent skin of the pitcher plant shows you all too easily the number of fallen.
What a clever plant.
I have watched fascinated and mesmerised as a fly dances around the top leaf – the nectar around the top of the trumpet, attracts the fly, which then moves to the underside to eventually lose its footing on the waxy surface and slide down into the pitcher beneath. Falling on top of vanquished comrades it battles and struggles desperately to escape but there is no reprieve. Last week one of the smaller stems has some legs sticking out – on closer inspection I noted it was an unfortunate Daddy Long Legs !!
I have spoken to Woody our tabby and impressed on her a need to improve results with regards to the the rodent and rabbit community outside – the pitcher plant sets a high benchmark!
I feel a repotting will be an absolute necessity for Mr P in the dormant winter period and have fears – could this be worshipping – remember the devilish Little of Shop of Horrors and Feed Me Seymour…
From the archive – May 2014…
At Helmingham
Carnivores Still Roam…
A warm sunny May Day with gusting winds. We headed for the famous Helminghall Hall plant sale and enjoyed a Grand Day out, mooching around the stalls, a picnic in the garden, followed by a gander around the moated Tudor Hall dated to 1480 complete with drawbridges and water so clear that trout of all sizes could be seen swimming lazily in the sunshine – clearly they too enjoy the aristocratic surroundings.
The deer are self evident and have high fences to keep them from going off piste and some rare bovines poked their horned faces through the fence – with densely matted coats they have a lot to carry as they roam the ancient oak lands. Some festive jive music and dance was also on hand to lengthen our stay.
The wall garden is beautifully planted and maintained and at this time of year is a riot of colour. On the outside walls a wide variety of Peonies have been planted many in full bloom no doubt a testament to a devout staff ! The Hall itself was not open and is still a family home for the Tollemache as it has been for hundreds of years.
We of course bought a selection of flora and fauna and Master Fawkes was bought a carnivorous pitcher by his Auntie. Sarracenia need to sit with their feet permanently in rainwater to prosper, but of course the real attraction, is this plant is a meat eater and traps any passing insect and then slowly digests its prey…!!
In your imagination you can sense a primeval connection – bigger versions probably ruled the earth and their time passed just like those in John Wyndham’s famous book, The Day of the Triffids.
There is another Autumn Plant Fair in September and other attractions during the Summer – Helmingham Hall is an understated gem and well worth a visit.
Posted by: Fawkes