ORANGE — October is the perfect month to kick off an art exhibit described as diabolical, mysterious and weird.

A grand opening for Wicked Plants: The Exhibit, is 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, October 3.   Evil plants lurking in one’s own backyard are on display with multi media and in selected areas, hands-on displays add to the educational and entertaining displays.

Created by the North Carolina Arboretum, the national traveling exhibit was inspired by author Amy Stewart’s best-selling book, Wicked Plants: The Weed that Killed Lincoln’s Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities and is funded by the North Carolina Arboretum Society and the Creel-Harison Foundation.

Stewart will be in Orange at the Stark Museum of Art for a lecture and book-signing on Thursday, October 8. Tickets may be purchased online by going to the Museum’s website at starkmuseum.org.

Three of Stewart’s books are available for purchase at the museum.

While the exhibit is on display, Wicked ARToretum from noon- 3 p.m. will include creating plants and flowers to be put on display on a community fence in the museum.

“We want to make art fun for everyone,” Ellen Welker, communications manager said. “There is something for everyone to enjoy.”

Also included in the exhibit is an opportunity to solve a murder and experience a stereoscope. With each room hosting a different theme, one can touch, see and even smell different dastardly plants.

The exhibit is part of a joint effort with all the venues of Stark Cultural Venues.

The W.H. Stark House, 610 Main Ave. in Orange, currently features the theme ‘A Death in the Family: Mourning and Remembrance 1880s – 1930s’, explores mourning death as an intrinsic part of life with elaborate rituals and social customs. For the first time, the Tower Room is used as an exhibition space, with special opportunities to learn and participate. The exhibition is the last stop on the regular tour, giving visitors an extraordinary experience in the historic setting.

Gallery Conversations at Stark Museum of Art offer insights from local experts with the first one from 11 a.m. – noon on Saturday, Oct. 3: Harmful Habitats for animals and how to avoid them with Anna Land, horticultural supervisor at the Houston Zoo.

Carnivorous plants will be held 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at Shangri La Gardens with the topic Carnivorous Plants with owner of Petflytrap.com Mike Howlett

Vicious Vines and Delicious Wines with a special guest conversation leader to be announced on starkmuseum.org will be held 11 a.m. – noon December 5, 2015.

Wicked Plants: The Exhibit will be on display October 3, 2015 – January 2, 2016.