Sundew Madagascar WHoyer

Friday, March 8: Unexpected Appetites: The Bizarre World of Carnivorous Plants

Lecture with William Hoyer on Carnivorous Plants

Friday, March 8, 7:00 p.m.
St. Mark’s in-the Valley Episcopal Church, Stacey Hall
2901 Nojoqui Avenue, Los Olivos

Featured photo of a sundew (Drosera species) from Madagascar by William Hoyer

Pitcher plant (Nepenthes species) in Papua, Indonesia. Photo by William Hoyer.

Join us for a look at a fascinating topic as the Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society welcomes back naturalist William Hoyer who will present a lecture on one of his favorite subjects: carnivorous plants. Most people have heard of the Venus flytrap, but the world of carnivorous plants is much larger than you think!  Learn about the diverse and bizarre world carnivorous plants in this botanical primer.

William Hoyer in Papua with a tree kangaroo. Photo courtesy of the speaker

Attendees will learn what makes a carnivorous plant carnivorous, where in the world they grow, how they trap, and conservation issues they face.  Some of these unusual plants are even found growing in our very own state of California…

William Hoyer is a long time carnivorous plant enthusiast and the natural resources manager for the U.S. Navy on San Nicholas Island.   He serves on the board of directors for the California Invasive Plant Council, and is a member of the Islands of the California Botanical Collaborative.  William lives in Santa Barbara and spends his free time outdoors and practices wildlife photography.  Before his career with the Navy, William earned his BS in Plant Science from Cornell University and served in the US Peace Corps in the Republic of Vanuatu, working on sustainable agriculture and marine resources projects.