In the Backyard: Calm Before the Storm
Category: Nature...
Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 09:20 AM [GMT-6]

I see from The Weather Channel's online report that it's snowing in Midland (this was written yesterday – and while none of the usual local blogging suspects have posted any photos from the Tall City, we can always count on Bob to show us what happened a few miles to the east in Stanton), with temperatures hovering around the freezing mark. Just a few days ago, we were enjoying weather in the upper 70s, with the trees – and hibiscus – in full leaf and bloom:

I'm sure the hibiscus is not nearly as perky today. It's a reminder of how quickly things can change. (On the other hand, it's also a reminder that if you have to go out, you might as well go while doing what you do best.)

I also wonder if this gal is still holding watch over the flowerbed next to the back fence:

This is a garden spider, a common non-poisonous spider with a wide-ranging habitat. Those dense threads on the web are called stabilimenta. There's some debate as to their function, as the linked Wikipedia entry explains.

The photo is actually of the spider's underside, as the orientation of the web made it impossible to get a photo from above.

This particular spider chose to build her web in the same vicinity as the hibiscus, and fortunately for her, it's not near our house or she'd be history due to, um, blunt force trauma. I know that spiders like this are harmless (although this one can and will deliver a bite) and that they eat some annoying insects, but they still creep me out.

Seasons may change, but arachnophobia is forever.