Web Walk

It is early morning and we are going out the back door to have a walkabout the garden, as we try and do every single day. We have had some rain recently so says the dragonfly's flagon. Good deal. That means the plants should be pert and perky. Off we go!
Turning left to go up the stone steps to see what's happening in the veggie garden we come upon this bit of filament where the gravel path meets the block wall. Oh goody, misty moistiness. The camera is at the ready, for we may get to see some interesting things on this foggy morning.

Looking up at the arborvitae hedge that lines the back of the veggie patch, we see some filmy weavings. The evergreens are always a good spot to find such things when the wetness catches on the nearly invisible threads. Let's continue down the hedge to see what else will show itself to us.

On the tomatoes, with the arborvitae behind, someone has been a busy spider. You have created a vision of beauty Ms. Arachnid. Very geometrical.

Still at the tomato row, this masterpiece reminds us of a lacy collar on a victorian dress.

Down in the area we call the flat garden where the old gravel driveway of the house next door used to end, more of a parking lot really, the blue Atlas Cedar holds the spinnings of a free style artist. There may be a pattern here, but it is not readily apparent. Good job though, we applaud the effort.

Now what's this? It certainly has a web look to it doesn't it? This is a large fan covering that was found laying out for the trash pick up. It got picked up allright, and just fit inside the diamond at the end of the arbor built by our Gardoctor. It may get painted someday, or not. The foggy background gives it a sense of mystery. Was this the work of a large spider with access to a welding machine?

I hope this one shows up, you may have to click on it to see the web covering the entire breadth of the pond. These master builders must be able to jump great lengths to get started on one of this size. We are still waiting for the first waterlily flower, this area has gotten more shady through the years and may not let enough sun in for flower production. The leaves are still lovely though and echo the shape of the glass fisherman floats.

Walking around to the front to get the morning paper we notice this work of art on the weeping blue atlas cedar. In the distance is the row of Knockout roses that line neighbors Mae and Mickey's white fence. Hi there neighbors!

Up near the front door on the post that used to hold dearly departed rose Killer, now home to a Carolina Jessamine, yet more webbing is spotted. Everywhere we look are more webs. Are they always there and we just don't see them on sunny dry days?

There were several webs with the large opening at the bottom as you can see here, I hope. I have never noticed before that type of spinning, with the egg shaped open space. Interesting. The coloring on the fading iris leaf has always attracted me. I have woven baskets out of this strong material, braiding it first for more uniform thickness. I'm afraid my basket making days are coming to an end however, for my hands lack the strength necessary to pull the weavers tight anymore. Adjustments will have to be made in the weaving process for that lack. Anyway, I have made a lifetime supply of baskets, sold some, given more away and have the rest hanging on the rafters in the garage loft space. Storage has been a problem for the larger ones, hanging is the best solution. They look pretty, but really attract the spider webs!

We got off track there a little, please forgive me. Back to the web walk, I think this one is on a butterfly bush. The gold chamaecyparis is in the background.

We have always called this type of web as belonging to the writer spider, also called a wolf spider. This one is in the rosemary topiary forest and the weaver is small, now. We have seen very large black and yellow spiders weave this same form of web. I hope this one doesn't get that large, or he will have to be removed.

Drat, this photo taken in the black garden doesn't show the web well with the Summer Wine ninebark. But look just past at that spot of bright pink! The new lily is beginning to bloom. Hooray!

Loaded with buds is this species lily, new this year, Black Beauty. Once again, there is nothing black about it, but it still is worthy of a spot in the black garden. Look at those luscious blooms.

Maybe the black refers to the stamens, for they are very dark. Not would I would call black, but maybe they darken with age. Well that winds up our web walk for today. Foggy wet mornings show us art in the garden that is normally not visible, although in the mornings sometimes we feel a thread across the face and know that we have interrupted the work of our friendly spiders, just doing their job. We cooexist with them, knowing some are dangerous. There is a place for all here, as was meant to be.

Frances