So soon the year arrives in August to balmy evenings heavy with a promise of wonders ready to burst into the world. Tonight is the turn of the humble ant, which for most of the year labours away steadily so that we are barely aware of its presence unless it wanders into our domain. Yet tonight each colony draws back the veil of secrecy and unleashes the culmination of its purpose into the warm night air. Thousands of virgins queens followed by eager males take to the wing in an outpouring of prolific, almost futile hope. I wonder, which few will survive and prosper to build a dynasty and which will fail and fall by the wayside enjoying one brief evening of freedom. Will that be fate or chance? I wonder and as the sun sinks behind the trees I head for home and leave the ants to their lottery.