The Denver Botanic Gardens is about to be infested by bugs - very big bugs.

Standing as tall as 10 feet and weighing up to 1,200 pounds, these giant insects aren't genetic mutations but the brainchild of artist David Rogers. The sculptures are crafted from trees and other forest materials (a few displayed at the Gardens were made from willow near Chatfield Reservoir) and take one to three months to complete. We talked to Rogers, whose portfolio now boasts 40 big bugs, about the origins of a few of his colossal works.

Dragonfly

• Dimensions: 17 feet long by 17 feet wide

• Weight: 150 pounds

• Made of: Red cedar and willow

• Inspiration: "I really like dragonflies and they have this prehistoric fossil record. You see fossils with 6-foot wingspans. They've been around for millions of years and remain relatively unchanged except that they've gotten smaller. They're just really cool to watch."

• Fun fact: While adult dragonflies average 25 mph, they can hit speeds of 60 mph.

Spider

• Dimensions: 3 feet long by 4 feet wide and 1 foot tall

• Weight: 150 pounds

• Made of: Carved black walnut

• Inspiration: "There was no question that I wanted to do something traditional. With Charlotte's Web being a classic childhood story - it's almost a rite of passage for children to be read that story and to love that story - it was just an instant connection."

• Fun fact: Rogers has created six spiders and a dozen webs in his effort to carve the perfect arachnid.

Praying mantis

• Dimensions: 18 feet long by 20 feet wide and 2 feet in diameter

• Weight: 1,200 pounds

• Made of: Carved black locust

• Inspiration: "It was the second idea I had for a sculpture. Just the way they walk and the way they hold themselves, you can't help but stop and watch them. You really never get to see many of them. I think in my whole life, I've seen maybe five or six."

• Fun fact: "Growing up in Long Island we were told if you killed a praying mantis it was a $500 fine. I found out that was a belief that other people grew up with, too. I guess it's a big urban myth."

Ladybug

• Dimensions: 7 feet long by 4 feet wide and 3 feet tall

• Weight: 200 pounds

• Made of: Willow and black walnut

• Inspiration: "This one came to me later. I saw this parade and someone had made a ladybug out of PVC pipe. I thought it was totally whimsical."

• Fun fact: "Considered beneficial because they consume pests, a female ladybug can eat as many as 5,000 aphids in its lifetime."

Big bugs

• When and where: Saturday through June 24 at the Denver Botanic Gardens, 909 York St.

• Cost: Covered in admission, which is $4 to $8.50

• Of note: This Saturday is free for Colorado residents.

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