In my small collection of hot house treasures resides a shelf of carnivorous beauties.  Some generally treat them as novel annuals, but with research I have learned the seasonal rhythms of my little collection.  I see that with high day and low night temperatures the Nepenthe have put out their tubby red lipped pitchers, waiting for any nosy bug to come on by and drop in, forever. The various Drosera 'sundews' reach their spatula or tentacled red leaves up towards the summer sun where their tiny hairs glisten with sweet dew drops in the morning and wrap around nomadic gnats in the evening. Standing tall and spotted, Sarrecenia, pitcher plants open their long throats, offering up a trumpet full of digestive juices that smells like honey. In their midst, strange red flowers sprout up, facing downward with the parachuted centers. And, of course, the ubiquitous Dionaea muscipula 'Venus flytrap sits in it's boggy pot with its pointy rows of teeth in a wide open smile waiting to snap shut and lock away a little winged something for noshing on later. The tiny  bladderworts masquerading as fiber optic flowers stand as tall as their thready stems will allow.

Carnivorous plants in a pot. (Drawing by Georgia Luiz)

This has been my spring, summer, and fall show.  I know in the winter months the pitchers will dry up as their leaves go dormant, and the fly traps will wither and die down to the ground where they will snooze until the days get longer again. After all, everything in nature needs it's beauty sleep.