The Exuvia Riders . . . Ride Like the Wind!

When I first found the dragonfly exuviae in the Arboretum's lily pond the other morning, I immediately knew there would have to be a follow-up photo shoot. My original idea was to feature the Crittergators riding on four exuvia shells, starring as the Four Crittergators of the Apocalypse. (OK, so it's a grim concept, but I promise we would have carried it off with grand panache!)

However, on this morning, I found two Dancing Girls on the fuchsia plant on the front porch, and so I decided to take the girls along on our next exuvia adventure. I had found at least a half-dozen exuvia shells on the lily pond the other morning, and I thought there might be steeds for all.

However, when I got to the lily pond on this morning, I was only able to find TWO exuvia shells. Two exuviae, two Dancing Girls; you do the math. :-) And so I carefully pulled the exuviae off the plants and sat them on the edge of the lily pond. Exuvia steeds present and accounted for, and ready to ride!

The Dancing Girls were initially afraid of them; they are such strange-looking beasts. However, we must all learn the very important lesson that not all things that look strange are evil. As well as the other important lesson: that not everything or everyONE who seems to be good, actually is.

And so the Dancing Girls mounted their trusty steeds, but not without a bit of trepidation. The one exuvia (the one on the left) had more of a curve to its exoskeleton, and it kept tossing its rider off. Such are the trials and tribulations of adventures: when you're off on an adventure, ANYthing can happen.

You wouldn't think that the shell of a thing would have such life still in it! But brave girl, back on the steed the Dancing Girl went: whatever else happens, you must FINISH the ride. And then around and around the lily pond they went, riding like the wind!

And somewhere, high above our heads, there must surely be two brand new dragonflies looking down on us and laughing. :-)  Yes, laughing, to see us having such fun with the shells they left so recently behind, when they first donned their wings.

The soundtrack: Christopher Cross, Ride Like the Wind.