Watching A Spider

   Well, one storm is behind us without ever making itself noticeable.  The weather was beautiful today with only one late rain shower providing us with some much needed moisture for the gardens.  I had hoped for a bit more rain but the "tropical system once known as Marco" played itself out without much ado.  Now we await the other which is predicted to be a tad (or a lot depending on who is forecasting) stronger.  We shall see.

  While out and about, I noticed a large spider in her web on the back of the shed.  I decided to pay her a visit.  As I watched her carefully remove a leaf that had become caught in her web, I had to think of how the spider had to be happy that a hurricane did not come.  If a small leaf could rip a hole in her web, imagine if a hurricane had whipped debris in on her.  As it was, she meticulously removed the silk from each part of the leaf then, literally, tossed the leaf free from the web.  It was amazing to watch.  Then, Ms. Spider went about her business of repairing the damage much like we would repair the Little Bayou House if it had received hurricane damage. 

The spider's five foot in diameter web was so intricately woven that it reminded me of the netting we use in catching fish.  How in the world did a spider have that much patience and finesse to spin such a creation?  It is funny how as humans, we tend to think we are so much smarter than any other creature.  Here, this spider with her eight legs created a web by using "building material" she formed in her own body.  Who of us can do that?  Each leg of the web is incredibly strong and has thousands of cross bands to create the mesh.  Even with multiple repairs, the web is beautifully made and functions remarkably well.  While I was watching her, a horsefly became ensnared and the spider left her work to go bundle it in silk.  Doing that kept the fly from damaging her web even more and also kept it in a safe place until she had the time to dine upon it.  Watching the spider almost made me feel insignificant and pathetically inept.  I stand in awe of her ability.

He Has Got To Go!

  Since Son is remodeling the shed, he had to do a good bit of cleaning before he started work.  Stuff had been shoved in there for the past ten years and instantly became lost.  He discarded 90% of the junk but a few items have to stay put right where they were tossed...at least for another couple of weeks.  Some old outdoor Christmas decorations were leaned against the side of the shed with good intentions of donating them.  Well, things happen and those things cause changes in plans. 

  A pair of wrens decided that their nest needed to be decorated for Christmas so they built it in the midst of the figures.  I have adamantly refused to move the decorations.  They will stay until the little ones fledge.  The eggs hatched two days ago and the mama and papa birds are busy creatures.  While I was out working in the gardens, it was nice to see the birds helping me find pests.  Then, it was a thrill to hear the little ones begging for their turn to be fed.  At one point, those hungry tweets were overpowered by terrified shrieks.  Oh, my!  I dropped everything except my trowel and raced to the shed.  A rather large, dirty yellow cat was attempting to raid the nest!  Ok, that was it, you nasty beast!  My trowel went sailing toward the feral cat.  Of course, my aim was way off and the plastic shovel hit the porch rail but the noise was enough to send the cat off in a hasty retreat.  

 I checked on the babies and they were fine.  They had hunkered down in the nest and the parent birds raised enough ruckus to draw my attention in plenty of time.  Now, however, I am worried that the cat will be back.  This feral cat has terrorized the place for too long.  He attacks Ms. Nycto, the Bayou Princes Cat, marks the territory by spraying (and stinking up) the steps and is now trying to make a meal out of the baby birds.  I am thinking a trap may just be purchased real soon.  This thing has got to go. 

If a Spider Was a Southern Belle!

  Son and I are continuing our yard work/shed cleaning.  I shift from the yard and fence building to help him with the shed cleaning when he is not doing construction on the loft.  I have to admit that he and I are a pretty good team!  Together, we accomplish a lot each day.  By the end of the day, however, this old lady is exhausted...purely exhausted!

  It was during a bit of cleaning in the shed that we found our "friend of the day".  Son had called for my assistance in moving a large workbench so I stopped painting the fence and headed to lend a hand.  Once we pulled the workbench out from the wall, he squeezed behind it to retrieve items that had somehow fallen to the floor over the years.  While he was there, I noticed something black about six inches from his hand.  "Umm. that is a rather large spider." I said.  He looked up and agreed.  "Yup." was the only comment.  He kept working.  I decided that the spider deserved a little more attention so I grabbed the camera and took a few photos.  After Son wiggled back out from the cubbyhole, I found a small slat of about two inches wide by two feet long and tried to coax the spider onto it.  I knew we were going to be spraying for bugs in the shed and did not wish to harm our new friend.  The spider reluctantly climbed aboard and went for a ride.  She never attempted any getaway nor showed any aggression.   She acted the part of the perfect "Southern Belle"...very gracious, sweet and even tempered.   

  I moved the sweet spider to the canebrake where I hope she will be happy.  There are plenty of bugs there so she will find food easily.  I did, however, have a few guilt pangs about disrupting her life and wish I could have left her in the shed.  These spiders do a marvelous job at eating anything they can overpower.  While I am not up on my spiders, I believe this is a Southern Black House Spider and a well-fed one at that.  She would have easily filled my hand...if I were brave enough to hold her.  

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!