Curiosities

We find ourselves asking a lot of questions lately, about all sorts of things.

Like, why are these orchids green, such an unusual color for flowers? And why do they last for 6 weeks or more?

… while these day lilies last only a day?

Why does a single dead log produce mushrooms again and again, not after every rain but just sometimes?

How do these scorpions find their way into our house? And after they do their mating dance, where will all their babies be born? (oh dear)

Is it true that scorpions don’t like lavender? Alia made a lavender pillow for her bed, just in case it’s true.

How could a flower be more perfectly adapted to attract bats -- hanging here like a chandelier?

How could a bug be so beautiful?

What does this katydid think about Benito’s fine basketry?

How does climate change inspire art? For Monteverde’s march for climate action, two artists created this giant sculpture of a bellbird (a bird with a most spectacular set of ‘honk’s, now threatened by climate change)…

… and another artist, Roberto Wesson, responded with this sign.

Alia wonders, why express one’s inner princess through pink tutus and tiaras?

And why not wear 8 braids instead of 1 or 2?

In a place as hot as Panama City, why doesn’t everyone just wear bathing suits all the time?

Jennie wonders, how did this single crew boat find its way to Panama’s Chagres River?

And what is this crazy family doing at the Panama Canal?

When will San Jose build a stronger public transportation system? There are lots of models and proposals under consideration, but so far nothing yet like Panama City’s metro.

When will public universities in the U.S. allow for payment of textbooks in the form of fresh farm eggs (like in my ESL class)?

You might wonder, what are these people doing? Making pan de palo, a Monteverde campfire tradition of biscuit dough on a stick.

And what are these cute kids doing? Celebrating Alia’s 6th birthday!