Today we’d like to introduce you to Paul Riddell.
Paul, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
A job offer moved me to Tallahassee at the end of 2002, and while the position didn’t last long in the post-dotcom days, my interest in Tallahassee’s indigenous carnivorous plants didn’t. The Texas Triffid Ranch got its start with lectures and presentations on carnivores, but it really took off with a physical location at Valley View Center in 2015. With the closing of Valley View’s art galleries in 2017, the gallery moved to Richardson, where it celebrates its first year at the end of February.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Absolutely not, but that’s what made the trip interesting. Many species of carnivore, while not necessarily difficult, are very particular about light and water quality, the latter of which was a major problem during the drought of 2011 and 2012. Likewise, finding a new gallery location after the implosion of the Galleries At Midtown at Valley View was a travail, especially with 30 days’ moveout notice and a freeze the weekend the tropical plants had to be moved. In all of these, though, the immediate situation was horrifying, but it also passed on a lot of new knowledge that makes subsequent events much easier.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Texas Triffid Ranch – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
The Texas Triffid Ranch is a carnivorous plant gallery: it specializes in custom-designed enclosures for a variety of carnivorous plants from every continent but Antarctica.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
The biggest plan right now, now that the new location is established, is to increase the number of events and showings in the Dallas area. Most people have maybe seen a Venus flytrap, and the goal is to spread awareness of the species of carnivorous and protocarnivorous plants that aren’t for sale in grocery stores at Halloween.
Pricing:
- Small enclosures: $50-$75
- Medium enclosures: $100-$250
- Large enclosures: $200-$350
Contact Info:
- Address: 405 Business Parkway
Richardson, Texas 75081 - Website: www.txtriffidranch.com
- Phone: 214-789-8365
- Email: txtriffidranch@gmail.com
- Twitter: Txtriffidranch
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