Nepenthes: A Definite Conversation Piece

We wouldn't be surprised to hear the plea "Feed me, Seymour" emanating from this impressive Nepenthes specimen. This weird and wonderful pitcher plant is definitely not the plant for everyone. Those who like a perfectly manicured myrtle topiary might find this exotic a little too ... well, this voluptuous beauty reminds us that carnal and carnivorous share the same Latin roots. These Asian natives get their nutrients by trapping and digesting insects. Richard Attenboroughe explains in this fascinating albeit kind of creepy BBC clip just how these pitchers form.

Meerkats in Manhattan

Even before Meerkat Manor: The Next Generation got underway, most of our meerkats had already flown the coop ... or, rather,  beat it from the burrow. The best we can say about the extended heat wave in New York? Nice weather, if you're a meerkat.

Sorry, These Shrimp Won't Make it On the Runway

Our apologies for not getting a better picture of an EcoSphere. The tiny shrimp refused to take direction. All the microorganisms may have put on quite a show, but, since they're invisible to the naked eye, we'll never know. The algae did sit still and look green for the photo. These mesmerizing EcoSpheres are entirely self-contained ecosystems. Only light -- not food, nor water, nor air -- gets in. The residents somehow all cooperate to sustain their environment. Our dads should be so lucky.

An Ecosystem for Dad?

Tip Sheet in the current issue of Newsweek asks "Looking for something new and interesting to give Dad this year?" First up on their list of suggestions:the Ecosphere, a self-contained ecosystem based on technology developed by NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. We'll put up a photo tomorrow. In the meantime, since we started carrying Ecospheres in February, they've won a devoted following of New Yorkers looking for a pet that never needs to be fed, walked or have the litter-box changed.