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ART IN BLOOM Animals get in the act at Art in Bloom Kids, grownups experience animal excitement at Art in Bloom Comment By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted May. 7, 2016 at 3:04 PM Updated May 7, 2016 at 3:17 PM By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted May. 7, 2016 at 3:04 PM Updated May 7, 2016 at 3:17 PM --> If you go What: Art in Bloom When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 8 Where: Downtown Medford Highlights: A children’s area, music and performances, and more than... » Read more X If you go What: Art in Bloom When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 8 Where: Downtown Medford Highlights: A children’s area, music and performances, and more than 120 artists and horticulturists displaying their works Info: http://art-in-bloom.com » Social News A moment with a snake on her shoulders was all Paty Emrick of Medford needed for an Art in Bloom memory. While walking with her family, Emrick stopped by a booth full of reptiles and bugs, and Joe Duckett of Nature Joe's handed her a rosy boa snake, native to Southern California and Mexico. It was Emrick's first time handling a snake, and she laughed with delight as the animal examined the back of her necklace and tried to slither down her back. "He likes it here, I guess," Emrick said. "That made my day!" Duckett says getting people familiar with animals they've learned to fear is something he enjoys about his traveling exhibit, which allows people of all ages to get up close and personal with bugs and reptiles. Saturday at the 16th annual Art in Bloom festival, kids, snakes, stickbugs and a 70-pound spurred tortoise named Luther all got to know each other at Nature Joe's, which is set up near Sixth and Central. It's the fourth year Duckett has made the drive from Eureka for the popular festival, and this year he brought 30 insects and reptiles with him. Although Hedrick eighth-grader Mai-Lynn Putzbach had been around snakes before, Saturday was her first time holding one. "It feels squishy," Putzbach said to her mother, Cristina Clark. Mai-Lynn started with an albino snake before graduating to the largest snake at the stand. "Are we allowed to hold the boa constrictor?" Putzbach asked Duckett. Moments later the boa was on Putzbach's shoulders. She gently petted the snake's head as it rested on her arm. "They're cold-blooded, that's why they feel cold," Putzbach explained as other kids felt the snake's scales. Duckett said the creatures he brought are rotated in and out, giving the cold-blooded animals time to rest out of the sun. He said he brings only animals that are used to the rigors of festival life. Although it's free for kids and grownups to handle animals at the booth, Nature Joe's is a business, and Duckett said he holds educational programs about animals throughout the year, in addition to appearing at parties and festivals. Duckett started the business about 25 years ago, after watching someone with a similar business when he worked as a camp counselor. "I just thought it was the coolest job ever," Duckett said. Down the street at the Hope Ranch stand, kids fed hay to a 4-month-old quarter horse named Buster. "It's his first time being out in public, and he's being a really good boy," said 15-year-old Hope Ranch volunteer Haley Herzog. Herzog, who attends Logos Charter School, said Hope Ranch has helped her get two horses. Herzog said she riding and caring for horses helps her to relieve stress. "They're like a best friend that can't speak," she said. Art in Bloom continues Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For a schedule and more details, see http://art-in-bloom.com Reach reporter Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @MTCrimeBeat. By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted May. 7, 2016 at 3:04 PM Updated May 7, 2016 at 3:17 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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