Return of the Cicadas - Samuel Orr

A 7+minute clip by Samuel Orr - Return of the Cicadas

The other day, I did a "show and tell" blog post with my new Pinterest Board about all things Insects.  I specifically mentioned using this collection as a kind of therapy to sort of toughen myself so I could take more time to look at bugs, and try to tamp down the "eww" reactions.  I particularly mentioned how the Cicada emergence this summer was on my calendar, specifically the 17 year cycle creatures, which I hope we will find a few of here on our farm in the Midwest.....

So maybe I can just watch films and videos about cicadas instead of bracing myself to actually go nose to nose with them?  I was wandering around the Huffington Post today, and I found the totally amazing clip embedded above, which is a fusion of stills and video all about the life cycle of this fascinating insect!  You can also watch it here on Vimeo.

In fact, I was so smitten by the beauty of this piece, and by the topic, that when I read that Samuel Orr, the author/artist of the piece has a Kickstarter campaign going to more fully develop and produce his Return of the Cicadas, I promptly signed up for Kickstarter here http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/motionkicker/return-of-the-cicadas  and added my little contribution to help him more fully develop this beautiful "nature tale" about a truly facinating creature AND, more to the point, a fascinating life cycle.

No, really, they are very beautiful creatures--don't say "ewwww" until you watch the little movie! (And the sound track is fantastic, too!)

Thanks for dropping by!

Bugs Project

WillOaks Studio "Insects, Bugs, Butterflies & Moths" Pinterest Page

I've found a wonderful purpose for my new Pinterest collecting--it's becoming a kind of therapy to help me get better with my insect aversion.  Alright, aversion might be a bit tame:  a better description would be my tendency to totally freak out when spooked by bugs.

So on Pinterest, I'm carefully collecting them, looking at them, actually enjoying the amazing shapes, colors, diversity.  And not just the really pretty ones, either, although there are plenty of these. 

Look at this spider photo I found yesterday....it reminds me of the time I came nose to nose with a "Wolf Spider" in Fresno, where I could have sworn the creature was larger than my hand, and had a row of eyes that wrapped all around his head.  I became hysterical because he was in my place and I had no idea what to do.  Lucky for me, my friend took care of the problem....but I ask myself now, why couldn't I just relax and LOOK at the amazing creature?  Calm down, take a breath, and study him?

So maybe bug photo collecting will help prepare me to handle insect encounters better?  You see, I'd love to go nose to nose with some really big cicadas this summer, if I'm lucky to see some, AND if I can remain calm, cool and collected enough to really get up close and look at them.  So if any of my readers know of any good bug photos, please leave me links here, and I'll add them to my collection!  And if any of you happen to have any ideas to add to my proposed course of insect therapy here, add those too!  Thanks!

Some Plants for the "Good Bugs"

I confess I can really get all caught up with the big spectacular flowers, the outrageous blossoms, only to overlook the more subtle blooms that are probably the real "work horses" of the farm and garden.

This collection of flowers are among those that provide some of the real nectar for the bees, food for the hummingbirds, host plants for the caterpillars, and a refuge for many of the "good bugs" that are part of a healthy ecosystem. Often subtle but quite beautiful with close inspection.

In order from the top: Dill, Eryngium, Phlox, Salvia.