go out and explore

There is a new atrium at the Botanical Gardens that opened last week. It looks wonderful, though still has a few bugs to sort out.

Monster Bugs
like this Caterpillar who looks ready to chomp on the Living Wall (and the kiddies heads - who squealed with mock fear)

there were boards with insects from exotic Malaysia and Thailand and other tropical climes

which vied for attention with the giant fighting beetles

beautiful creatures that fly

there were live bugs to see
like these grasshoppers

and this monster (rose tarantula) who is apparently very soft and light as a feather and who would explode if she fell even 3" due to her internal organs just floating around that enormous abdomen

There were robotics to play with, levers to push, ropes to pull, knobs to turn, mechanical legs to move, movies to watch, bugs to colour, all aimed to teach about the physiology and anatomy and purpose of bugs. And there was food to eat

like these freshly made 'gourmet' chocolate covered crickets

that tasted more like chocolate than anything else

or so I heard.

go ahead click on any picture to make them bigger