Yesterday evening, as we were drivng home from the restaurant, I decided to stop and turn on the drip hoses that I had setup around the fledgling hibiscus plants that I recently planted at my studio. I inadvertantly turned on the sprinkler first in the front raised bed before correcting. As we drove away I spotted a web in between the hydrangeas that was glistening in the sunlight due to the little bit of water and hollered out " there's a HUGE black spider in the middle of that web!" "I need to get my camera and get a shot of that for I heart macro sunday!"
So I got the camera and my husband and I walked back to the studio and sure enough, he was still there, busily wrapping some poor unfortunate critter.
I have no idea what type of spider this is but he is about 3 inches long with incredible color and markings.
My husband said growing up in North Carolina they called these ABC spiders because they could sometimes see a letter in the web.
W, X, Y Z maybe.
It will make me think twice about just hopping in the middle of that garden to move the sprinkler and weed I'll tell you!
Right next to the web, I have this beautiful plant blooming. I can't remember the name but will find out because I would like to plant one at my house. It is growing about 3 feet tall with thick wide burgundy and green leaves much like an amaryllis. The flowers come up on big thick stalks from the center and look like a pineapple before opening. From a distance all i used to see was white but upon close inspection they are full of color.
It has been so nice to focus on the beauty all around us, even this week with everything else that is going on, it did my heart good to change my perspective and go macro.
I would like to thank everyone for their comments and well wishes, i will respond individually as soon as I can and will hope to catch up with blog reading too.
I will try to post later today with the updates on the reno but things are definitely looking up and we hope to reopen this weds, Aug 3rd.
Now head on over to Studio waterstones to enjoy all the rest of the macro goodness in the world!
WOW, great capture of that amazing spider!!! That flower is way cool as well!
ReplyDeleteOkay, I love the close up of the spider but it still wigs me out :) Love the close up of the plant and I really love the last photo of the open blooms. Gorgoues!!!
ReplyDeleteCool shot of the garden spider! We had a bunch of them in our garden last year, but none this year. I guess we didn't have enough bugs for them and they moved on. The plant in the other pictures is very interesting.
ReplyDeleteAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH * Faints *
ReplyDeleteThese are really great shots! And I share your trepidation...every time I feel a spider web on my body as I pass through the foliage I get anxious.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind spiders for the most part but the up close and personal photos made me shudder!!! They are great photos though! The flowers are so pretty!
ReplyDeleteWhat fantastic pictures of that spider! 3 inches!!! That's huge! Glad its just a photo and not the real thing. Actually I love spiders in the garden--just not when they come into the house.
ReplyDeletegorgeous pics sweetie {altho' some content is a bit squiffy!} love the pretty flowers ;o)
ReplyDeletehugs
hello gorgeous xxx
Fantastic! These are the coolest images of a spider.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous macros, the spiders are amazing.
ReplyDeleteNot often you can get a WOW and an EWWW about the same thing! I think that is called a Garden Spider hes pretty cool and a bit scary too! Nice photos.
ReplyDeleteLaura, they are wonderful photos...I don't mind spiders as long as they are outside. Such pretty markings.
ReplyDeleteThe plant is really interesting...I will be looking to see if any one knows what it is called. I really Iike the detail on the individual little flowers.
Jenni
Beautiful photos. I really like the last one where the flowers go down diagonally. The spider on the other hand is also wonderful but not sure I will be able to sleep tonight :)
ReplyDeleteSweet Laura - great shots . . . but after getting bitten by a snake (twice) - you are going to pause gardening because of a SPIDER? HAhahahaha!!! Glad you had some heart stopping beauty to reflect on these crazy days! Sending love and hugs! (- Carol M. in Frederick!)
ReplyDeleteLove this shot! We have one of these outside the front door...wasn't too happy with me when I started taking pics either! I have always called this a garden spider---not sure what they really are but one thing---BIG! Very nice flower shots too!
ReplyDeleteWow! Those spider photos are phenominal. They remind me of what we called corn spiders when I was growing up. I love your macro shots. So full of detail and depth. Hope things are going well with getting the restaraunt back in order. Thinkin of you and sending hugs.
ReplyDeleteoh goodness! I almost couldn't get past that spider, but am I ever glad I did! That last shot is incredible...
ReplyDeleteEeeek so glad we don't have spiders like that in this part of the world!! Fab photos though!
ReplyDeleteYour pics are just sensational! Im so impressed with the spider ones!! Wow!
ReplyDeleteI love Garden Spiders... this one is a bit thin, but that may be the nature of this subspecies. The ones we have around here get really fat and beautiful. Great shots.
ReplyDeleteWe had a lot of these spiders in the barn when I was growing up. We called them "Writer Spiders" because you could see letters in the web; however, I have been told they are corn spiders. Yuck.
ReplyDelete