Visiting Drew Martinez and Carnivero in Austin

September 10, 2025

Visiting Drew Martinez and Carnivero in Austin, Texas

Earlier this spring, our family, including my wife Alice, made the trip down to Austin, Texas, to visit my longtime friend Drew Martinez. Drew and I go back many years—we first connected when he lived in the Bay Area, and he’s passed through Colorado several times since. I even have a vivid memory of trying on Google Glass for the first time at his place in 2013. So, this trip felt like reconnecting with an old chapter of life while stepping into Drew’s present world—one filled with thousands of carnivorous plants.

The Road to Austin

This was our first big road trip after Luca was born, just four months earlier. Traveling with an infant added a new rhythm to the journey, but it made the adventure more memorable. We left Colorado Springs late in the afternoon and pushed through until about midnight, finally rolling into Amarillo, Texas. It wasn’t the most glamorous stop, but it served as a good halfway point. The next morning, we got an early start since Austin was still about eight hours away. By May 7, we were pulling into the city, eager to catch up with Drew.

Adventures with Drew

Drew and I in 2018 with some wild S. leucophylla

Drew and I have shared countless adventures over the years, from searching for wild Sarracenia and sleeping on my sister’s couch in the Deep South to traveling to Cairns, Australia, for the 2014 ICPS (International Carnivorous Plant Society) conference. Our friendship has been rooted in both plants and exploration. Those shared experiences have shaped not only our bond but also our growth as growers.

Though we’re competitors in the nursery world in some ways, we’ve also collaborated on exciting projects. One of the most recent is a remarkable cross: Nepenthes naga “Paul B.” × villosa. Working together on plants like this feels less like rivalry and more like a shared passion pushing the hobby forward.

Inside Carnivero

Drew is the owner of Carnivero, one of the largest carnivorous plant nurseries in the United States. His greenhouses are massive, with rows upon rows of carefully cultivated plants. Carnivero is one of the few carnivorous plant nurseries in the country open for retail sales. For enthusiasts, this means you can visit, browse, and hand-pick plants directly from the source—a rare opportunity in the carnivorous plant world.

The operation includes a specialized highland grow chamber and a state-of-the-art tissue culture facility. Walking through Carnivero felt like entering another world, where Nepenthes pitchers dangle like ornaments, sundews glisten under the lights, and Venus flytraps stand at attention, waiting for their next meal.

It’s not just the scale of the nursery that impresses but the care and scientific precision Drew has poured into it. Tissue culture is a meticulous process, requiring not only horticultural expertise but also lab-grade equipment and patience. The result is a collection that supports conservation, fuels hobbyists, and shares the wonder of carnivorous plants with growers across the country.

The Texas Meetup

The main reason for this trip was the Texas Carnivorous Plant Meetup on May 10. The timing couldn’t have been better—we arrived a few days early and spent time catching up with Drew and his family before joining the event.

Nepenthes veitchii

The meetup brought together enthusiasts from all over who share a fascination with these strange, beautiful plants. Being there with Drew—someone who has dedicated so much of his life to cultivating and advancing this community—was a reminder of how passions can grow into something bigger than you ever imagined.

Reflections

Visiting Drew in Austin was more than just a reunion. It was a chance to see how a friendship that began years ago in the Bay Area has intersected with family milestones, long road trips, and shared passions. Holding four-month-old Luca while catching up with Drew, with Alice and our family along for the journey, felt like life weaving the past and present together.

Carnivero isn’t just a nursery—it’s a testament to Drew’s vision and persistence. For me, it was a reminder that sometimes the best journeys are those where friendship, family, and passion all meet in the same place.