Saturday, October 18, 2008

Your it!

So Kristina over at http://momtionary.blogspot.com/tagged me. From what I understand, I must now share 6 things about myself that no one else from my blog community knows.

1. I once desired to become an entomologist, until I found out they also study spiders. I still find insects fascinating and photograph them on occasion (as I've sure you noticed).

2. For a few years my girlfriend & I had a landscaping company, designing and installing perennial gardens.

3. When my husband and I were first married neither of us wanted children. Then we came to our senses and the Lord has blessed us with 3 here on earth and 1 in heaven.

4. I used to have recurring dreams about losing my teeth. Which I've heard is common for those of us with TMJ.

5. I don't like watermelon or any other melon as a matter of fact.

6. I've worked on and off for my husband since we've been dating. That's about 18yrs. My jobs, while working for him, have included receptionist, biller, title clerk, accounts payables & receivables and landscaper.

I hope you've enjoyed learning a little bit more about me.

Now I shall tag:
Ruth @ http://hope46.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Insects

Insects:
-There are more insects in 2 square miles of rural land than humans on Earth
-Insects account for 8 out of 10 of all know species.
-They are found everywhere on the Astronaut's Globe, even Antarctica.
-Over 900,000 species have been identified.
-The weight of the Earth's insect population is 12 times greater than the weight of all the people.
-Only 1% of insects are harmful to humans.
(Info from A Crewmember's Guide supplement to The Astronaut's Globe by Earth Seeds Project http://www.earthseeds.net/)
Here are some photos of the wonderful, interesting insects you can find in Michigan.




Now before you get to creeped out don't forget insects include beautiful butterflies which help to pollinate plants and bees which are also useful pollinators. Without them we wouldn't have most of the flowers, fruits and vegetables that we do.


They are varied in shape, size and color





Some blend in with their environment
In some cases, such as the Praying Mantis the female will eat the male after mating.

Some are destructive like the non-native Japanese Beetle

Milkweed

Milkweed

monarch caterpillar on milkweed

Butterfly

Butterfly

in the butterfly house


hummingbirds join the butterflies

red panda

Birds in the Aviary

Birds in the Aviary

scarlet ibis