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Native Californian, biologist, wildlife conservation consultant, retired Smithsonian scientist, father of two daughters, grandfather of four. INTJ. Believes nature is infinitely more interesting than shopping malls. Born 100 years too late.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

The Mr Smiley Orthoptera Refuge



Fire season is just around the corner and you will be heartened to know that I weed whacked today like there was no tomorrow.

I felt a pang of guilt however as various katydid and grasshopper nymphs shot out of the botanical flak. 

I knew my old friend Dave Rentz of BunyipCo, aka Mr Smiley, would not approve. 

Never mind that his brother John is a retired fire chief. 

Dave has had a lifelong love affair with orthops -- grasshoppers, crickets, katydids, and yes, even cockroaches.  

When the non-biologist sees an entomologist doing his or her thing you often hear the comment  "Now I've seen it all." 

Others may approach cautiously and ask "what are you doing?" 

Mr Smiley's response was an utterance -- "Glasss-hoppah!" given with the crazed look of a character from "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest".

You have to admire someone like that. 

So I designed the Mr Smiley Orthoptera Reserve, and felt a little better about my carnage.




4 comments:

Mr. Smiley said...

I'm humbled. What an honour. But a bit reminiscent to the "Ronald Reagan Memorial Redwood Grove". But it's the thought that counts--and hopefully it will be successful.
DR

Bpaul said...

My father works with biologists quite a bit in his profession. He has dubbed a certain, very dedicated, subset of them the 'friends of the albino cricket type.'

This post reminded me of that phrase, I thought ya'll might get a chuckle out of it too.

Bp

randomtruth said...

Hmmm... From the angle of your photo it looks like it would only take a tad bit more trimming for it to be an exclamation point. But that might cause speciation, so maybe you better not. :)

Anonymous said...

Here in NW Oregon, it seems that we have had only a few hours of sun this month and it is hard to imagine fire season!