The other day Rebecca was poking about in the garden, getting things ready for spring planting. All of the sudden, she called me over and asked me to carefully and slowly dig down into the mulch. There was something ‘very special’ waiting beneath, she told me. I could hardly imagine what! I pulled back a bit of bark, then another, and then something strange and wonderful met my eyes. A gleaming bit of gold attached to an almost perfectly camouflaged body.
This amazing animal was hiding, silent and cool, beneath the mulch. Waiting . . .
There were other things to be found in the garden. Not only the growing plants, such as the odd, bright red peony shoots emerging from the ground, but another unexpected resident — this large beetle. He seemed hardly able to keep to his feet on the uneven ground. Time and again he tumbled down small hillocks and lay there for a moment, waving his sharp feet in the air before he righted himself and trundled onward.
It’s clear that all sorts of creatures are busy in the garden this spring — not just Rebecca. From the microorganisms in the soil to the chickens scratching about looking for bugs, the garden is already becoming a happenin’ place.
Posted on April 13th, 2010 by Kenton Whitman
Filed under: Getting Outdoors
Like a puff of spring air—this was just so darn wonderful to read. Can’t thank you enough…nice, contented sigh…
Ah, a Geotrupes scarab beetle - feeds on dung, tho not a true dung beetle.
Isn’t that why we’re all wild about nature? We never know what treasures we will find.
Thanks Jay!
It really was marvelous to peel back that wood and see such a strange looking creature . . .
Hi Ted!
We just love it when you stop by and let us know what six or eight-legged critter we’ve met. You’ve really fostered a love of beetles in us — we stop now whenever we see one, just to take a closer look, and it always seems like we’re amazed at the colors and details we missed before. This guy left little to the imagination, though — big, bold and beautiful! Such amazing animals . . .
Hi Jackie,
Absolutely. We couldn’t agree more =)
It is busy! And like a treasure chest. After our snow melted we found blown down bird nests, worms and gobs of busy bugs! I love spring :0) Thanks for sharing
Hi Shawna!
Wow, a treasure chest indeed! All the oddities left by winter, there for us all to find. Thanks for sharing as well!
Our gardens on the west coast are still cold and wet, but that hasn’t kept us inside. Nice shot of a beetle…makes me look forward to more.
Hi Becci!
Glad to hear you’re getting out despite the weather. Your website ROCKS, by the way — thanks for being an active part of getting people out-of-doors — especially kids! We’ve added you to our Awesome Nature Blogs blogroll — keep up the great work!
What wonderful pictures! More proof that you don’t need to be in a remote wilderness in order to see amazing things. The “little things” that we all have in our backyards can be so fascinating–we just have to get out and look. Thanks for the great post. I will keep reading!
Hi Backyard Safari!
We couldn’t agree more! Wonderful blog, by the way — we especially enjoyed “Doorways to Nature”. We’ll add your blog to our blogroll as well — thanks for being a part of the effort to remind all of us of the wonders surrounding us!
Beautiful. I’ve finally found a blog that appreciates those smaller elements in nature, the detailing on an insect’s wing casings and such. Really enjoyed this
Hi Ashley,
Thanks for stopping by. Visited your blog and read your book excerpt. Pulled us right in! Keep up the awesome writing =)
sorry posted on the wrong comment section.. ok WOW, your photos are amazing… really enjoyable.
Hello Robin!
Thanks much — we greatly enjoy yours as well! That’s quite the photos of the moth!