The Trappings of Childhood and Nature

During a recent visit to Charlotte Nature Museum’s, Trails End Store, my seven-year-old purchased a Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula)for himself and his teacher. His teacher lives on a farm and often shares stories about the flies on the horses. He was very happy about his pet plant purchase. All the way home he held the plant in his small hands talking to it, observing its modified leaves, looking around for flying insects wondering which unlucky creature who lingered a little too long would become his plant’s next meal.

Venus, as we affectionately call her, now lives in our breakfast nook. My son placed her in a shallow bowl, is careful only to give her distilled water and makes sure the blinds are positioned to allow the right amount of sunlight. Before we could get close to Venus my son explained we must never touch her leaves, as this will make them close and prevent her from capturing food. He also explained that when Venus senses an insect on her leaves she will close her leaf and trap it, then secrete digestive juices to extract nutrients from her catch. Venus has yet to snare an insect while we are watching but three of her clamshell-like leaves are closed, leaving him to wonder what she has been up to while he is at school.

Each day he records his observations in a nature journal and fills me in on the latest changes and his hope to catch something crawling across the floor to feed to Venus. This has been a wonderful nature experience for us. My son is sharpening his observation skills, learning to seek out information on his own and recording data that is relevant and important to him. He is also learning an important lesson in caring for nature’s treasures and strengthening our connection to the natural world. .

Stop by Trail’s End Store and find your Venus or one of our interactive experimental kits that may delight your young naturalist. From magnifying glasses to field guides there is something for everyone, that will build a memorable natural investigation for the entire family.

Naturally speaking,
Lisa Hoffman.