Miniscule Work of Art!

   I am one that wanders aimlessly about the property purely engrossed in the miracles that surround me. The early morning hikes that start before dawn on the pier then wind around behind the greenhouse and canebrake are always full of surprises.  At this age, I should be amazed simply by the fact that there are still things that can surprise me but, come to find out, Mother Nature always has something new up her sleeve.  It is grand.

  This morning's pier time found me mesmerized by the workings of a tiny creature.  The critter in question was a wee spider that had spun her web on a pier post.  A single, bent nail provided support for her upper strand and the web stretched from there to the post.  The web was perfect!  Added to that perfection were the jewel-like droplets from the light sprinkling of rain over the Bayou last night.  Teeny, tiny spider did not catch much for her breakfast but her web was surely an extravagant thing of beauty!

  The strength of the web, even from a spider this tiny, was astounding.  In proportion, the weight of the water droplets had to be extraordinary but most of the web was intact.  The few broken strands were most likely caused by the rough wind or from a large insect before the misting rain occurred.  Since webs are spun purely as a means of catching food, I often wonder if a spider ever sits back and admires her work of art.  If not...she should.  Humans only wish we could do half as good.  I am now going to make an effort to check on Teeny Spider with each trip to the pier.  She deserves the admiration.

Mace Sedge and Tiny Spiders

   After any tropical system that hits the Bayou, I am always a bit concerned about those dratted invasive species that are often washed ashore.  We have become plastered with cogon grass, water hyacinths, brown widow spiders and eastern lubber grasshoppers all thanks to one storm or another.  None of these were present when I first moved here from the old farm place across the road.  Now, I find that there are several more "pond" plants that are clogging up the waterways of the Bayou.  Soon, there will be no way to navigate the twists and turns and, soon, there will be no Bayou left to enjoy.  Even from the shoreline, you can see masses of floating plants that were not there before the latest system (Claudette).  A few were washed in on the high tides and now are multiplying rapidly.  There is nothing I can do to save my Bayou from this mess.  Son and I pull out any of the plants that we can reach from the pier and small skiff but it is a dauntless job to empty an entire bayou of unwanted items.

  Early this morning, my walk to the pier caused a bit of concern.  Near the sloped step up to the planking, a large plant loomed where one had not been a few weeks ago.  With the copious rainfall, I had neglected to see this one.  It worried me that this would be another "problem".  Since I could not get to the plant for fear of getting totally mired in by the squishy mud, several photographs were taken of the plant to use as a reference for me to study.

  It appears that my fretting was for naught.  The plant is actually sold in nurseries as an ornamental and is not considered invasive.  Carex Grayi or Mace Sedge grows in large clumps but is easily controlled and is a source of food for some birds.  The flowering part does indeed look like a medieval weapon, of sorts!  

  It is funny how after spying the Mace Sedge and worrying about the possibility, I suddenly became engrossed in photographing a tiny spider that was repairing her web after a night of successful hunting.  The sweet little thing had her web strung between several of the "maces" on the plant.  It occurred to me that she was one smart spider.  Her choice of making the web in the muck and mire of the Bayou ensured that she would snare plenty of mosquitoes.  At the same time, the pointy sedge knobs give her a slight bit of protection from any small predators that may wish to eat her!  Critters are amazing.  I am sure glad her choice of a homesite is not something I have to eliminate as I would hate to disrupt her important work.

Going For Bigger And Better!

   I am not sure just why but I find spiderwebs and fog a perfect combination.  The droplet-laden webs remind me of the perfect compilation of Mother Nature's art.  Since we are in that weather pattern known as Somewhat Winter in the Deep South, fog occurs often.  If I notice that it is a foggy morn, a hike must begin immediately after the first mug of coffee.  It is mandatory!  Regardless of what has been planned, a quick jaunt around the place searching for webs is a must.

  Mostly, I search for the large webs that span between tree limbs,  These carry the droplets in a draping pattern much like a beaded necklace.  Occasionally, however, I will drop to my knees to photograph the ground spiders that make funnel webs in the grass.  The spiders are quick and often dart into their funnels before a picture is taken.  I often wonder how often their webs are destroyed by clumsy oafs such as myself.  Sometimes, the hillside is pure white with the dew-laden or fog-laden webs.  

  Then there are the webs that are beyond understanding.  These are the ones that have no rhyme or reason as to where they are placed.  I understand that the webs are the spider's sole means of catching prey but you just have to wonder why?  Why? Why is the web here?  This cannot be the most efficient method of bug-catching.

  Down the hillside a small oak tree had popped up since the last time I mowed the grass.  It stood about a foot high in a wide open space.  A spider had decided that this "treetop" was the ideal spot for a web.  The spider covered the entire top of the sapling with webbing.  The spider was a tiny one so perhaps this was a first attempt at its own web design.  Then, again, maybe the little one knew what it was doing and covered the top in hopes of snaring anything that climbed the sapling.  Whatever, the spider had its beginning.   I have to admit that the web caught my eye and captured my attention so much that I returned to it several times.  The unusualness of the location drew me like a magnet so maybe that spider was pretty smart.  If bugs are as curious as I am, then the spider will soon move on to bigger and better things!