Following in her mother's footsteps

    Not too many folks are elated to see spiders about their place.  I guess I am one of the few.  Even though I have been bitten numerous times and once by a black widow, it never riles me to find yet another web with a female dangling within.  Spiders are good things to have about the place.  I do understand not wanting them inside the house but in the garden, they are our helpers.  This morning, it pleased me to find an tiny orb weaver.  She was obviously very young as her web was not the huge ones normally found but a tiny six inch web. The web did have the telltale "writing" or zigzag design of a weaver spider.  The spider had chosen to weave her home in the marsh near where her mother had done so last year.  The spider and later her egg sac became a source of entertainment for me.  Each day, the spider could be observed carefully wrapping some hapless insect tightly with silk.  This would be used as a later meal since the marsh provides plenty.  Then that lovely golden orb or egg sac appeared.  It was thrilling to know that yet another generation of spiderlings were to come.

  This is a black and yellow garden spider who allowed me to visit for a spell.  She and I came to an understanding that I would not harm her and she would eat as many gnats and mosquitoes as she can along with any other insects.  I do believe that is a win/win situation.  I let her know that she will always be welcome.  

The Sad Goodbye

  I have often said that I have more critter friends than human ones and that I prefer it that way.  Critters are not all about drama and turmoil.  They wish to live their lives in peace and go out of their way to do just that.  It is my nature to befriend any critter that wishes to be near me whether they be furry, feathery, scaley or have exoskeletons.  They can be reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, insects or whatever happens to be their lot in life.  I am good with that.  In fact, this whole tale is about a one of those critters that most folks get the hebejeebies at the mere mention of the name.  A large Black and Yellow Garden Spider made her web in front of the shed door.  Well, I use that shed almost daily but hated to disturb her.  I devised a method of entering without tearing her web.  A long slender board was placed against the shed door and she readily attached her web to it instead of the door.  Each day, I could move the slat to the side and enter the shed without bothering her.  The spider and I became so accustomed to each other's presence that neither were alarmed at any time.  We became friends, if there could be such a thing.

  Today when I went to the shed, I was both elated and saddened.  Attached to the wall with a web of silken threads was a golden orb!  My sweet friend had created the sac, filled it with eggs and secured it to the wall.  It brought great joy to know that next spring hundreds of little spiders would crawl from that orb.  At the same time, it greatly saddened me to know that the beautiful spider's life was about to end.  I put my hand next to her and with one of her long legs, she gently tapped me.  I stood there a long time just being with her.  I think she understood and appreciated that I came to say goodbye.  

  It is funny how life is sometimes.  Things come.  Things go.  Things stay the same.  Life goes on. Growing mentally attached to anything and then letting go can be hard.  I will be the first to admit that I am going to miss my daily visits with the spider but I can only hope that one of her offspring will rebuild a web nearby so I can appreciate her even all the more.  Goodbye, my sweet friend.  I will do my best to protect your egg sac and little ones when they hatch.


 

Fall Spiders!

  Fall has just got to be right around the corner if for no other reason than I am ready.  Down here in the Deep South, we don't "get" fall like everyone else so we "make" fall.  Wishful thinking can do amazing things!  As soon as August ends and September rolls in, we immediately "fall" everything! Decorations are put up, spices are hauled out and, oh my, the leaves start to change colors!  No, wait.  That is not here.  We have leaf color only it is green.  That green usually hangs around until about January but our wishful thinking doesn't mind.  It is fall.

  Today, I found another giant orb weaver spider.  A huge, palm-sized beauty had strung her web between the groundsel bush and a pier post.  This was yet another black and yellow garden spider like the shed door guardian.  I love these gigantic spiders simply because, while they appear intimidating, they are rather docile.  I also love them because they are harbingers of fall!  Yep, Pop always said that finding these spiders and the huge webs meant that fall was right around the corner.  Pop was smart with the ways of nature so I am grasping to his bit of wisdom here.  My spiders herald fall.

  As I was sitting admiring the beauty of the latest spider find, I pondered if Pop was on to something. The best thing I could do was look up about the critters.  Sure enough, it seems that the spiders stay hidden until they are ready to mate and lay eggs.  The female spins her large web and waits for a suitable husband to wander by.  After his visit, she usually eats him for dinner and the proceeds with weaving a lovely cocoon for her eggs.  This golden orb will house her babies until the next spring.  Fall is the egg-laying time for the orb weaver spiders.  Ahh, good to know!

  So, Pop was right once again.  The "Fall" spiders are coming into view so all is right with the world.  Those of us that have been fall ready for the past few months are happy to know that "our" time is nigh!  Happy Fall, y'all!  Let me go check for fall colors...yep!  The Fall Spiders are here with all of their beautiful hues!

Guardian of the Shed Door

  A couple of weeks ago, I noticed a beautiful Black and Yellow Garden Spider starting a web near the door of the shed.  This shed houses any number of gardening and mechanic tools so is used quite regularly.  The spider was determined that the shed door was hers and. even though, I tried to discourage her from spinning said web, it was made.  So I have had to work around her.  There was no way I was going to kill that lovely creature.  

  After the second or third time in one day of using the door, I had the brilliant idea of placing a long wooden slat against the wall near the door frame.  The spider immediately took a liking to that slat and, instead of attaching her web to the door, she did so to the slat.  This made life easier for both the spider and me.  Now, to enter the shed, I gently move the slat to one side.  My business in the shed can be accomplished without disturbing my friend.  She, on the other hand, has never actually seemed bothered that I was in "her" territory.  I figure there must be a mutual fascination between human and spider here.  Personally, I am glad to have her guarding the outbuilding door as she will be more than ready to devour any roaches, termites, ants or any other insects that decide to infest the place.

  Black and Yellow Garden Spiders belong to the orb weaver family.  They are so-called due to the large, circular webs that they spin.  "Orb" comes from the ancient astronomers' word for "concentric circles" and the webs are just that.  The "non-sticky" silk is used to make the radii and "sticky silk" is used for the spirals to create a beautiful web.  To most folks, however, the interesting part is the "writing" in the center.  This zigzagging effect has been credited with both being a warning for birds and larger critters that the web is there and with being an attractive lure to insects thinking it is a flower.  As a warning sign, larger critters are discouraged from ripping the web.  As a lure, nectar-seeking insects think they have hit the mother lode of goodies.  Then, there is the idea that neither of those are true and that the real purpose of the writing has yet to be discovered.  I guess it can be whatever the spider wishes it to be.  

  I know it won't be long before the lovely lady of the garden weaves her silken ball and lays her eggs.  Hopefully, the golden globe will survive the winter without being raided by the squirrels and next spring, hundreds of miniature replicas of the spider will inhabit the area.  In the meantime, she can stay where she is.  As long as she is there, I do not have to lock the shed door!