Laura Richards and William Grant Turnbull thought they were hired by the Madison Public Art Project to craft sculpture for the Arboretum Longnecker Gardens. Secret squirrel influence on the project was largely underrated until this autumn. The lofty aluminum leaves of the statue are perfect for air drying and preserving Osage oranges, as any crafty creature would surmise.
At first we thought the yellow fruit high up was tennis balls, part of the sculpture. But then we saw the Osage oranges at the base. Squirrels are the only mammals who eat the fruit. Highly suspicious!
What are squirrels or lizards up to in your neck of the woods?
¡Olé! –Rebecca
This post is part of Debbie’s Six Word Saturday.
Fake Flamenco 
I like Squirrels but they’re not in my country, however there are a lot of lizards around here, I like to encourage them in the garden.
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Thanks for telling us about the lizards in your garden. I bet they are very helpful in combating insect pests.
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Yes they are beneficial garden animals, a natural pest control.
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How fortunate! Wish they could live in our cold climate.
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What a strange structure
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Thanks for your comment, Devang. May apples are understory plants about 8-10cm tall. We have a few in our yard. Perhaps the sculpture is to make us feel small compared to the plant.
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How come you always find peculiar looking things?? 😛
I really enjoy your content ☺️
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Thanks, Devang. I’m lucky to live in a creative town. Also lucky I have my cell camera to capture the moments. 🙂
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You just have an eye for action 😊
How are you?
How are spending weekend? 🙂
Wishing you a peaceful time ahead 🙌🏻
Dale !!!!
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Thanks, we’re doing well. Our family just received their bivalent Covid vaccines so we are having a mellow weekend. A bit sleepy with sore arms, but otherwise all right.
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Rest well!
Best wishes 😃
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How interesting that the squirrels can climb it. It looks like the main pole is metal which I would guess is a challenge for squirrels but I guess not!
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Thanks, Wynne. Squirrels are a pretty determined lot. 🙂
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Squirrels can climb almost everything with top speed.
They have speed and great agility.
Sometimes I feel oh they will fall, but the best part is they are quick in decision making and can go from one tree to another within secs
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Yes, they are amazing acrobats.
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Ha ha, I love this! As Wynne says, how DO they climb up though?
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Thanks, Margaret. Next time I’ll hang around longer and catch them in the act!
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How adaptive these industrious squirrels. Amazing.
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We humans are simply tools, like with our squirrel-proof bird feeder puzzles they love to solve.
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Exactly!! Well said Rebecca. I enjoy your shares, always very engaging. 👍
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Thank you, Suzette. Likewise!
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🙏
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Wow, I’m impressed at the climbing ability of those squirrels! The poles look quite smooth and tricky to climb up. Clever creatures! And what a great symbiosis of art and nature. The fruit adds to the sculpture. Thanks for sharing this, Rebecca. What an interesting observation.
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Thanks, Britta. Symbiosis is a good word for it. Squirrels store black walnut pods on our front porch so they can find them come winter.
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Clever climbing critters! Never underestimate a squirrel, it seems.
I particularly admire their ability to mind control artists…… 🙂
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Sculptors are contributing to more communities than they realized! 😉
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🤣
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Now, that’s an idea. Clever Squirrels. Sadly I haven’t seen both, squirrels or lizards in my surroundings.
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How curious..
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Yes, what will those squirrels think of next?! 😉
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Hey, squirrels are seriously entertaining. We have a pair in the yard here who bicker like an old married couple.
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