Praying Mantis and Flamingo Dance the Paso Doble!

It was a beautiful and warm November afternoon. A very large praying mantis was strolling through Ellen's Bulb Garden / Barb's Butterfly Garden, just enjoying the sun. My husband offered the big bug some water in a tiny lid, and it drank deeply. Then he came back into the house and brought me out, and of course, you know me: I had to take pictures.

I got there in time to see the dance just starting. "Will you come a-waltzing, Flamingo, with me?" said the praying mantis to the pink flamingo. "Of course!" said the pink flamingo. And the dance was on! They began with a waltz, then performed the paso doble with style and gusto. "Now, which one of us was supposed to be the bull?" asked the flamingo, part-way through the dance.

They danced around the butterfly garden. They twirled and they twisted. They kicked and they swirled. They bowed and they lifted. Crazy, flashy, crowd-pleasing steps were performed, to the delight and chagrin of some judges. Carrie Ann** loved it, and cheered them on. Bruno** critiqued the flamingo's footwork; espoused innuendos. And from Len**: "A TEN!!!"

Above you may see one of the highlights. The praying mantis is performing a very special dance maneuver, known only to the mantis family. It is a tightly guarded ancient secret. They are getting ready for the big dismount, to be followed by bows to the cheering crowd!!! Hooray! Hooray!

Our soundtrack song is the final dance from the film Strictly Ballroom. :-) Enjoy! And keep on dancing!

**Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Len Goodman were judges for the American TV dance show Dancing With the Stars during the many years that I watched the show.