Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Roman snail


I didn't know they were called Roman snails either - those large lung-breathing, hermaphroditic, edible snails. That's too much information, isn't it? I don't have these in my yard, although there were plenty of them where I used to live just a mile away. I photographed this snail and many more at a gas station in Ventura after the rain. I wasn't sure snails were bugs. I deferred to one of my favorite web references: what's that bug? I think bug, just bug, isn't really a very specific scientific term. Apparently it can refer to insects, spiders, mollusks, flu viruses, and computer problems. Small annoyances.

I've always kind of liked snails. They can play hell with a garden, but they don't move suddenly or have any sharp edges. Their shells are rather beautiful and interesting to paint

5 comments:

  1. Oh Barbara, the shell looks so real and shiny! I liked the way you added real looking leaves in the back ground. I never ever thought of painting them so far, but their shells are worth a try, isnt it?

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  2. Great job with the depth of color on the shell. This "bug" looks really nice!

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  3. You did a beautiful job on "her". To me it's a her. I have often gone to look at that website "what's that bug". I love it.

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  4. Thank you Padmaja, Paula and Sandy.

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  5. I treat snails in my garden as Mork used to treat eggs: "Fly, little buddy." Like the eggs, they often don't land well.

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