My birthday is September 21st, the last “official” day of summer. I love fall. The colors, the smells, the fresh veggies and fruit, wearing sweaters, kicking the fallen leaves and the crisp air.
But soon the trees are bare, the flowers are brown, and then Old Man Winter moves in for the long haul.
I like snow well enough, the world becomes a black and white photograph.
Add in a little ice on the trees and plants and it is beautiful.
But that also means short days. Lots of dreary clouds, ice storms and lots of shoveling the white stuff, bitter cold winds and eventually Cabin Fever. So I look at my birthday as a bittersweet day. The end of one season, the beginning of another.
This year we are in North Carolina and for my birthday, we went to Raleigh’s annual Bug Fest at the National Museum of Natural History. The theme this year was Scorpions and they had quite a few species on display. Outside the museum the streets were packed with all kinds of displays and activities.
Sandcastle building.
Roach racing.
A flea circus. Yep fleas.
This particular flea circus was brought to America in the late 1880’s by Alberti’s great-great-great grandfather (or something like that). It was passed down through the family from father to son over the years.
Alberti promised me that he does use real fleas and not cock roaches in his show. I asked him how he trained his fleas but he claimed it was a family secret. Hmm. We missed the show but it was fun talking to Alberti anyway.
Inside we found lots of bugs. (obviously) Here are some pics of the bugs on display.
A rough legged walking stick from Australia.
A cool blue bug that I will be looking for when we head out West more.
The prettiest color caterpillar that I have ever seen.
And my all time favorite the Leaf bug.
Here he is in action, weaving around acting like a leaf on a tree blowing in the
wind.
