Tuesday, June 1, 2021

A 17-Year Wonder

The screeching noises that had surrounded the yard all day began to quiet. The sun sank low in the west and beautiful pinks, oranges, and mauves repainted the light blue sky. My husband and I knew we would need to look quickly to find what we sought before darkness made it impossible. 


We didn't need to look far. They became immediately visible on nearly every surface. Empty cicada shells. They were on fence posts, the swimming pool, iris leaves, the sides of the house and garage, and most of all, the trees. The trees were loaded. We had to walk with care as there were many in clusters on the ground. 

A walk out to the maple tree on the southeast corner of our property revealed even greater wonders. Cicadas walked up the tree to shed their shells and some waited patiently to harden off so they can fly, mate, and set the stage for the next emergence in 2038. We watched in fascination until nightfall made it impossible to continue. 

We left them in peace to continue their mission.

Nature inspires such curiosity and imagination.

If you want to know more about the 17-year cicadas, you can learn about them here.





Until next time,

Tracy

8 comments:

  1. We haven't seen or heard any here yet. However, a chocalatier about two hours from our house is now offering chocolate-covered cicadas, which I find appalling on several levels.

    Thanks for celebrating the cicadas today!

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    1. Chocolate-covered cicadas...I can't even imagine! However, the chocolatier could gather quite an inventory in my backyard...

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  2. Wow! I haven't noticed cicadas here, but friends in other parts of Virginia have noticed so many cicadas.
    I love your statement "Nature inspires such curiosity and imagination." Beautifully stated!

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    1. It is odd how they seem to be hit and miss in areas. I read that even in the same woods, there are heavily-populated areas and areas with absolutely no cicadas.

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  3. This is such an interesting phenomenon of nature and I love the rhetorical use of "made it possible" and "made it impossible". Lovely post.

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  4. A beautiful way of welcome them!! I love the way you describe the setting in the beginning of the text!! I didn´t know anything about these insects.

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