Bishop’s Cap cactus (Astrophytum) will be available at TBG’s weird plant sale.
Remember when you first learned about Venus flytraps those carnivorous plants that close their spike-leafed "jaws" around unsuspecting insects and devour them? Pretty fascinating, wasn't it? Well, Tucson Botanical Gardens (2150 N. Alvernon Way) wants to turn you on to other cool plants with their Weird Plant Sale on Saturday, June 12 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Botanical Gardens is a thriving public garden and non-profit organization nestled in central Tucson. Since 1975, when it was established at its current location, this desert oasis has been a sanctuary for plants, birds, insects and other desert dwellers including humans.
TBG's educational programs are for kids and adults alike, providing classes that teach water harvesting, horticultural therapy and composting. Special events like Hot Wings (an indoor native butterfly exhibit held in July) are designed to bring folks to the gardens during Tucson's seemingly endless summer months.
The Weird Plant Sale is a great opportunity to check out bizarre and exotic species that have developed specific "habits" to stay alive. Living stones (lithops) and avonia, which evolved to look like white bird droppings, avoid being eaten by mimicking rocks or other inedible items. Check out mutant and rare plants like grafted red-top cacti and plants prized for their strange geometric structures, like Euphorbia obesa, or the baseball plant.
Many other cacti and succulents from the Sonoran desert and further-flung locales will be on sale, as will distinctive pottery. If you spend $100 or more, you'll receive free tickets to TBG's summer concert series, Third Thursdays.
Admission is free. Garner more information at TucsonBotanical.org or call 326-9686.
