SPOOKY!!

It seems as though mother nature is decorating our neighborhood for Halloween. 

 A couple of days ago I was out about 10am walking Dunn in the neighborhood when I noticed a tree that someone had decorated with ghosts.

 

I thought it odd because this tree was not in some one's yard, it was in the median in the middle of Highland Drive.  How thoughtful of someone to decorate public property for all to enjoy.

 

As I got nearer to the tree, I understood that these designs were not, in fact, airy ghosts hung in the tree but spider webs.  Dew was caught on the web filament and sparkling with the morning sun.  I caught it at the perfect time when the web was being back lit by a low autumn sunrise, but before the sun could evaporate the dew.

 

 

In the northwest fall is a time when we are inundated with spiders.  You can hardly walk any where outside without feeling that creepy cloying feeling that tells you have just come through a spider web face first. Half the time you end up with a spider on your head from walking through her home.

 These octagonal webs are made by orb weavers which are prevalent around here. They are such fascinating spiders and very beneficial for the garden, so we protect them. Right this very minute I have 4 of them with their separate webs hanging from the eaves by my front door. 

 I have even been known to feed them if I see a bug that I don't like.  I'll pick up the bug and throw it into their web and watch as the spider wraps up its victim. I am entertained, the spider is fed and there is one less beetle to eat my plants. Win-win. Becca and I have been known to catch bugs to feed the spiders and then stand there and take pictures of the action. This spider got a bug bigger than she is.

By observation I have learned that the younger (smaller) spiders take longer to wrap up their victim and are much less efficient.  They tend to run around their victim dragging the web filament over them as they go round and round. The more mature (bigger) spiders stand still and spin the bug in front of them like a chicken on a rotisserie, covering them with more web on each turn.


 I know it is bizarre  that I find this so interesting, but I do.  Somehow I find great joy in details, especially in nature.  It is endlessly fascinating.