Haunted landscape centers are less frightening than normal garden centers, as the cool presence of ghosts actually calms the ever-present population of carnivorous ferns. Enjoy scary thrills without the danger of being eaten by a decorative green with today's Groupon: for $8, you get admission to the Haunting Experience 3D (an $18 value) at Zywiec's Landscape and Garden Center in Cottage Grove. While this offer gives guests access to two fright houses, a haunted hayride, and bonfire, it does not include admission to Zywiec's corn maze.

Located on 70 acres of farmland and woods, Zywiec's has been complementing its plant plantation with a seasonal terrarium of terror for more than 20 years. Visitors begin their exciting excursion in a 3-D haunted house, where special glasses provided by the center will have little ones jumping into their parents' laps and parents jumping into the laps of other, larger parents as creepy creatures jump out from every creeper-filled corner. Next, thrill seekers are ushered into the haunted mansion, where they discard their special-effects lenses as maniacal, bloodthirsty flower fans chase them through 20 horrifying rooms and out to the waiting hay wagons. After being briefly schooled on the horror of hay-fever allergies, the daunting descent into the frightful forest begins with a mile-long hayride through haunted woods and panic-ridden cornfields.

Visitors who manage to make it out of the haunted attraction alive can enjoy Zywiec's nightly bonfires, as well as free movies projected on a large outdoor screen, while munching on snacks and perusing seasonal décor such as Indian corn, mums, pumpkins, and candy-corn seedlings in the garden center. The entire haunted experience lasts at least an hour and a half and stays open from dusk until 10 p.m. on weekdays and until 11 p.m. on weekends, though guests should check out the calendar before they leave to make certain the attraction is open.

Expires November 1, 2010.