One of my favorite places in our area is the Morton Arboretum. I go there for peace, beauty, and the wondrous sights they’ve often prepared for our enjoyment.
Recently, they’ve had an exhibit of Big Bugs created out of willow, red cedar, and black locust wood by artisan Dick Rogers. As the bugs leave on Saturday, to continue their nation wide tour, I thought I’d display them for you here:
Bugs, birds, and reptilesmy prey may be.
But my name come from
the prayer-like stance you see.
(praying mantis)
Spiders produce silkto capture a meal,
Prey may struggle,
but it’s stronger than steel.
(spider)
I’m one of the fastestinsects that you’ll see…
You have to travel
25-35 miles per hour to capture me.
(dragonfly)
Soldier, engineer, nurse or queen I’ll be.
Every day I work hard
to benefit my colony.
(ant)
Colors and spots won’ttell you my age, oh please!
But looking at them
will reveal my species.
(ladybug)
With my legsI can make a song.
I can jump two feet up
and four feet long.
(grasshopper)
I’ve got eight legsand I may be a fighter,
But I have no venom,
so I’m not a true spider.
(Daddy longlegs)
I’m quite like my dragonfly cousinswith many things.
But you can tell us apart
by inspecting our wings.
(damselfly)
Flower to flower,I am a collector.
I get my energy from
pollen and nectar.
(bee)
My long beakmakes my prey run.
I use it to inject them
with venom.
(assassin bug)
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Great photos! That looks like such a fun place. I love sculpture!
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That is one of my favorite exhibitions of all times. Great pics and happy TT!
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Those are AWESOME!!! I was kinda worried when I read your title that it was going to be REAL big bugs. So glad it wasn't!
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What a fun exhibit, something everyone would enjoy.
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They had those here in Denver at our botanic gardens, but I never got there. So your TT is a big treat for me! Thanks for sharing and what great photos! Did you take those?Happy TT!
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I didn't know they were in Denver, Claudia! I did take the photos, and thanks for liking them. As my mother says, "You have to take a lot of photographs to get a few good ones." I crop them on Google's progam called Picasa, and choose the best ones to post.
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Very cool! I love the verses to go with them.Lezlie
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Those are incredible and I am so glad that you shared them this week for TT, never would have gotten to see them myself anywhere. Thanks for visiting the Cafe this week.
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These are so neat! I can't figure out which one I like best. Thanks for sharing. Happy TT
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Those pictures were awesome. I can't wait to show them to my husband when he comes home from work. He's big into bugs. Thanks for stopping by my site as well. Happy TT!
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Wow, they weren't kidding about big bugs! Those are great!
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AWESOME! Nuff Said.
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wow, those are great, especially loved the spiders… very cool… happy TT!
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I enjoy the Morton Arboretum but haven't been there in more than a year. Thanks for the reminder! And those spider webs are way cool. (Thanks for visiting my TT)
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I'm so creeped by bugs that this gave me the willies, but it's also really neat! Awesome TT 🙂
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Oh wow. Bugs drive me nuts, but those are beautiful!!
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Is there a website that would show where those are going to be? If that one eight-legged creature with no venom is not a spider, what is it? Do you know?So interesting.
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Beverly, I don't know their tour schedule. You might want to Google Dick Rogers' Bugs and see if you can find anything. I do know they're heading south as Winter approaches (to stay out of the snow). The eight legged creature is a Daddy Longlegs, which is a spider in our minds, but I guess not correctly termed that. I think I should go through and put every insect's name under its photograph. Glad you liked them!
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Those are so cool!! I'd love to see that exhibit!
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Those really are something! I'm always amazed by what some people can do. And your pictures are wonderful, too!cjh
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Who thought bugs would be so intriguing? Not me! (Thanks for enjoying the pictures, too. 🙂
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That's about the only way I'd like to see those bugs that size.
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dearest bellezza,this are the most delightful 'bugs' i have seen! and that is saying much as i am an admitted 'bug-a-phobic.'but even more captivating were your rhythmic couplets that accompanied each photo ….oh i do wish this exhibit would find its way here, so far south of you…to be able to take one's fear and turn it into something golden and beautiful …. an inspiration.thank you ! fondly,Lady Blue
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Lady Blue, I'd love to take credit for the little poems under each photograph, but alas, they come from the Arboretum's booklet for kids called "Be A Bug Detective!" I've been interested how so many people who commented here were like, "Bugs? Ew!" and then were amazed at the sculptures. It just shows you how art can change our point of view.
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We had Big Bugs on display in my area not too long ago, and I never even thought much about it. Now I'm sorry I didn't go see them when I had the chance :o(
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Those are sooo cool!
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Hey, cool! I just found out The Big Bugs are back,practically in my own backyard…a couple of miles from me, at Garden-in-the-Woods, here in Framingham.
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wow, thats amazing. wonderful blog 🙂http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/
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I LOVE this – something I've never seen or heard of. Thanks so much!
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Nan, aren't you glad we don't come across them that size on our Sunday strolls? 🙂
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