Fireflies by Rex Sorgatz — Courtesy PhotoDropper
“Shine little glow worm, glimmer . . . glimmer.” How many of you remember that old tune and seeing lightening bugs (or more commonly fireflies) growing up back east? I do. We knew we were deep in the middle of summer with the first signs of lightening bugs blinking off and on in the night sky. Off we’d go giggling and laughing as we chased them around our backyard.
I miss seeing them out west. We don’t get them at our elevation of 8,500′, although my daughter sees them where she lives in Colorado. So, it goes to show they’re out here, too, though not as common.
From both a CBS “Sunday Morning” piece I saw last week and a post written by Andrea at “Harvesting Hecate“, I was reminded of this annual miraculous wonder put on by Nature. Here, take a look:
Are you able to see fireflies where you’re at this summer? Do you remember, as a child, playing and chasing them around in the fields on those hot, summer nights? They were fun times!
Pat from the ol’ kitchen table
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Thanks for the link Pat and I’m so glad you saw this footage so you could share this! That looks wonderful – I saw only a couple of glow worms and they have a constant light rather than this ‘sparkling’ – this must be a real sight to see 🙂
You’re welcome, Andrea. Funny, the synchronicity in just seeing that piece last week and then you mentioning glow worms in your post. They are fun and a real sight to see blinking all around. You can’t see them in the dark until they light up as they’re flying. So, they pop on and off as they move around. Great fun as a kid to chase them around and mystifying, as adults, to watch.
Thanks for helping me remember those good ol’ days. 🙂
Fireflies are funny little creatures. I think it’s ironic that their scientific name is LAMPyridae and they light up like a lamp. They rather homely when they are not lit up with electricity – kind of like Vegas in the daytime. I remember chasing them around and putting them in a Mason jar as a kid to make my own firefly lamp.
Oh, you remember chasing them around, too. Wasn’t that great fun, Susan? Seemed like, when we were kids in the summer, a lot of the fun was just being able to play outside in the dark. Then, when the fireflies came out, it added more to the thrill of mystery and playing.
That scientific name is interesting containing LAMP, as that’s what they certainly carry is a lamp turning it on and off. Also, thought it was interesting that they’re also known as fireflies but they’re a type of beetle.
Thanks for stopping by, Susan — I love hearing your take on it and that you also chased them around when you were little. 🙂
Pat, the little ones were visiting the other night when the fireflies came out what shocked me was how many landed on the children’s fingers and would sit there lighting on and off for several minutes before flying off. I’m so glad the children still enjoy one of my favorite things about summer.
Aww, that sounded like so much fun, Lois. I could just picture their glee and laughter. Makes me miss the lightening bugs even more and being a kid. Good times and making memories that’s for sure. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
I remember catching the fireflies when I was 4 years old and putting them in jar for a firefly lantern.
I know, Carl, me too. I remember running around catching them. You never knew where they were going to pop on next. Good memories, huh? Love it. 🙂
I only had the chance to see lightning bugs when I visited my cousins in Indiana and Michigan in the summers when my family would vacation there. I remember being captivated by them, and of course we would capture them in a jar to watch closely. I think we let them go after awhile– at least I hope we did! Loved this memory, Pat! Thanks for sharing it.
Hi Teri – I’m glad you had that experience when you visited your cousins. It’s one of those little things miraculous in the happening especially with being right there. The videos can’t truly capture the essence of actually seeing it for yourself. I think we did the same thing, like you, and caught them in a jar for a short time and let them go.
Happy you stopped by and will be seeing you soon, my friend. 🙂
OMG does this post bring back memories! It used to break my heart when the other kids would catch these and remove the light. I wanted them to live and keep flashing their light at us. I still see them now where I live. They make me smile.
I know what you mean, Cheryl, warms my heart, too. Good memories seeing these lightening bugs. I remember that some kids did that with their light but thankfully none did in my circle that I can remember. It was just the pure joy of chasing them and trying to catch them as they flew blinking off and on.
I envy you that you live where you can still see them. I miss that and also miss the sounds of cicadas in the forests.
Lovely video! Thanks for sharing Pat. Such wondrous creatures aren’t they? I first saw them here in Mass. – never in Belgium, although I know they’re out there as well.
Thank you, Karin. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’m sure you got to see them a lot in Massachusetts. I always loved seeing them when I lived back there and visited no matter how old I got. I miss that. 🙂
I will miss that too.. and a lot more :/ but I’m sure I’ll gain some new exciting experiences as well 🙂
Yes, I’ll share missing them with you, Karin. Did you mention you were thinking about going back to NZ? I don’t remember. Do they not have lightening bugs, there? I’ll be looking forward to reading about your new exciting experiences. 🙂
Pat, I’ve never seen glow worms…the closest I’ve seen are fireflies which we used to catch in jars as children.
Hmm, I thought they were the same thing, Bev — fireflies and glow worms. We used to call them lightening bugs — so there’s another term. Either way, I always enjoyed them and their fun to watch. Do you have them in Canada?
Pat, guess what? We saw glow worms in France! Remember how I was telling you that I never have seen fireflies from your last post? Well, I couldn’t believe it when hubby found a glow worm in the grass at the house where we stayed. I couldn’t get a photo of it unfortunately, my camera didn’t do it any justice, but I was so excited to see one at last with it’s fluorescent green light shining in the dark like a magic star! And then to read your post here, what a coincidence! I’m so excited to share this with you my dear friend 🙂 <3
Yeahhh, Sherri. I’m so excited you got a chance to see a glow worm, even if just one in the grass. They are so magical when flying around. It speaks to the imagination of a child not to mention the delights of adults. I miss seeing them at our elevation. But, can still picture them in my mind’s eye. 🙂
😀