August 03, 2025
It’s not yet the season of the witch, but you don’t need to wait for Halloween to enjoy The Terrorium, a shop of oddities and curiosities in Denver’s Berkeley neighborhood. My daughter heard about The Terrorium on TikTok, and we checked it out during my visit last month. What a unique plant shop — and more — it is.
The Terrorium features a intriguing assortment of dried florals, living plants, animal bones, taxidermy, preserved insects, terrariums, candles, tarot cards, and other earthy, pagan, even slightly macabre home goods. It’s a shop for anyone attracted by the cycle of death and rebirth — those who notice green shoots springing up from ashes and the beauty in decay. Addamscore, anyone?
I’m a fan of Small Deaths artist Kate Breakey, I love a good Dia de los Muertos celebration, and I’m game for an oddities shop, no matter how odd. So when I saw half-human, half-succulent mannequins in The Terrorium’s window, I paused for a closer look.
Who knew vivisection could be so…botanical?
And stylish
The store name is an amusing play on terror and terrariums.
Cultivate curiosity on the door invites you to explore.
The interior is small but appealingly merchandised with living plants and terrariums.
And then you notice animal skulls and other bones in the terrariums.
And deer-leg bouquets. Man, I could have done this with the fawn leg I found in my garden this spring — who knew?
Jackalopes and other mythical creatures share wall space with framed butterflies.
A red-eyed jackalope is kind of scary.
Other creatures are preserved in vials.
A sign explains that their animal specimens are collected post-mortem and not killed for their taxidermy work.
Butterfly still lifes
A fox mural — he’s not just sleeping peacefully.
Skulls and baby heads, ready to hold your next potted plant
More bone florals
The shop uses beetles to clean their bones. How about that?
Dried moss pictures remind me of Austin’s own Articulture, back when they still had their retail shop.
For mystics, there are books…
…and spell jars…
…and tarot cards and more.
I picked out a pretty candle and candle snuffer to take home. For locals, The Terrorium offers classes where you can make your own jackalope taxidermy (ha!), seasonal curiosity wreath, fairy terrarium, spider coffin (!), and more.
I welcome your comments. Please scroll to the end of this post to leave one. If you’re reading in an email, click here to visit Digging and find the comment box at the end of each post. And hey, did someone forward this email to you, and you want to subscribe? Click here to get Digging delivered directly to your inbox!
__________________________
Digging Deeper
Want ideas for your yard besides lawn? Sure you do! I’m giving a talk called “Lawn Gone: 8 Great Ideas for Your Yard” on Saturday, September 13, at the Concho Valley Master Gardeners Fall Symposium in San Angelo, Texas. The cost for the all-day symposium with 4 speakers is $30 per person; refreshments and lunch included. Register by 9/10 at this link to attend. I hope to see you there, West Texas homeowners and gardeners!
My new book, Gardens of Texas: Visions of Resilience from the Lone Star State, comes out October 14! It’s available for pre-order now on Amazon and other online book sellers. If you’d like to read it or give it as a holiday gift, please consider pre-ordering. (I’m happy to sign pre-ordered copies at my book events!) Early orders make a big difference in helping new books get noticed. More info about Gardens of Texas here — and thank you for your support!
Come see me on tour! I’ll be speaking and hosting book events across Texas this fall and into next spring to celebrate the release of Gardens of Texas. Join me to learn, get inspired, and say hello!
Come learn about gardening and design at Garden Spark! I organize in-person talks by inspiring designers, landscape architects, authors, and gardeners a few times a year in Austin. These are limited-attendance events that sell out quickly, so join the Garden Spark email list to be notified in advance; simply click this link and ask to be added. Read all about the Season 8 lineup here!
All material © 2025 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
