Garden Buddies

"Hi there!"

This was a very agreeable medium size praying mantis.  The sun was setting so the light was difficult and I kept asking it to move from flower to flower, hoping to squeeze out a little direct sun.  I'd take the blossom it was on and touch it to the one I wanted it to move to.  No border collie needed :-).

This big guy was who originally caught my eye as I walked past the dye garden last night.  Biggest grasshopper I've ever seen!  And, and this just seems so weird that I didn't know this, I could see him breathing and it struck me as really odd...as I guess I didn't realize bugs breathed.  You know, like in and out where you could see it.  Had to look it up and sure enough...

He was pretty agreeable too.  I didn't ask him to move around, but he let me work and work to get the focus right on this so his face was sharp and clear.  He's hanging on to a fennel branch and I love how the foliage looks completely foreign.

"G'night crazy bug lady."

Everybody take care of each other.