Get a free carnivorous plant at this fun weekend workshop in San Francisco

Ever wanted to own a plant that controls your home’s insect problem, too? Then head to the Mission Bay public library on Feb. 26, for an intriguing workshop about why and how to grow carnivorous plants, featuring a giveaway of Venus flytraps and more.

“Carnivorous Plants 101” is a free workshop from the folks at the Bay Area Carnivorous Plant Society, probably the largest society of its kind in the United States. President Zach Lim and former president Stephen Davis will discuss the nature of carnivorous plants, where they’re from and what species are best to grow in the Bay Area.

Many folks might not realize it, especially with given its periods of gloomy weather, but the Bay offers some of the best climates to grow a majority of these plants, says Lim, who’s also the director of animal exhibits at San Francisco’s Randall Museum.

And just what are the attractions of tending to a plant that digests flesh? “In a nutshell, the idea of an animal-eating plant defies what we think of when we think of a plant!” he says. Carnivorous plants are so ‘alien’ yet so familiar, as plants are all around us. They bring a sense of youthful wonder that never wanes with age.”

The society’s events tend to fill up quickly, so make sure you’re in attendance early to snag your free plant. The majority are going to be Venus flytraps, provided via donation from the Half Moon Bay nursery Rocket Farms. “Personally, I will be giving away Drosera adelae, the lance-leaf sundew, from Queensland, Australia,” says Lim. “This species does great in low light, which the majority of people living in areas without outdoor space may have to work with.”

Details: RSVP for the free event at Eventbrite. Workshop runs from 2-3 p.m. at the Mission Bay Program Room of the Mission Bay public library, 960 Fourth St., San Francisco; 415-355-2838.