I spied a spider . . .

I am really semi-phobic about spiders, but for some reason I look them as subjects for my photos. This is a specimen of a common breed around our yard who loves to hang out on a patch of calla lilies.

"What're you looking' at?"

A walk around the backyard:

I love to just stroll around our backyard to check out the sights, and no matter how many times I do, I am rewarded with surprises and treats:

I call this guy "Lily Spider", because he is uniquely adapted to hide in and on our lilies to catch his dinner.

"What're you looking' at?"

Our neighbor's tree is in the middle of the slowest escape from her backyard ever . . . .

This is the kind of shit I do for my wife---literally. One of our neighbors has goats, and I got a load of the end product of their digestive process for our compost pile, eventually to be added to our garden. Potent stuff!

Our salad bar, though I wouldn't eat the jade plant at the end---it's only for display.

Bee versus spider

Spider wins, apparently . . . . .

The Return of the Spider

A couple of years ago we had nightly web building by an orb-weaver spider outside the room our birds are in. The next year we had a shorter visit, and last year there were none. This year we are once again favored by this intimidating but fascinating visitor.

I got this picture well after dark by using a tripod and a flash. The next shot is hand held, using a flashlight for illumination.

I'll a real wimp when it comes to spiders, but these guys are such good models!

The Weekend after Easter

The Easter Bunny came late this year:

The Easter Spider was right on time, though:

Spring has arrived at last!

'Tis the season for flowers and spiders . . . .

This time of year on the Northern Coast of California, the flowers and spiders are thriving. More on the flowers later, but here are some images I captured with my camera that I wanted to share:

This white spider is protecting his turf; in this case a calla lily. 

I caught sight of this little drama as I strolled our yard, and came in for a closer look. 

This guy had captured a bee, and was feasting on the remains. He looks quite full, don't you think?

March Madness

It's the third month, and our weather varies between cool, moist days and sunny, windy ones. I took a bit of a walk to see what the backyard holds:

The lilies and spiders continue their symbiotic dance . . . .

New growth on the water lilies our landlords have placed in the pond we share.

Big bamboo . . . .

Our plum tree got creamed by a falling alder last winter . . . .

The princess plant my wife transplanted is growing great guns!

A sure sign of sping: new lawn mowing machinery. We purchased a Husqvarna string mower to replace our ten years old Yardman string mower. Our yard is a meadow-like area, and this is the only way to go for us.

A day like today reminds me of the wonderful natural beauty of our home, and I am grateful to live here.

A beautiful coastal day

Memorial Day was an absolutely lovely day on the North Coast. Let these photos illustrate that point:

The two pictures above are of a strawberry planter that my wife has placed some whimsical odds 'n' ends in.

Hummers are just so darned photogenic.  

While the spider in the above two pictures seems to be floating in air, his web across the mouth of the calla lily is actually giving him invisible support.

I was trying to capture this bee in flight, but after a while he decided to rest on my sneaker between flights.

Spring is definitely coming . . . .

When the happenings of the world of humans gets to be too stressful, a walk around the backyard has what it takes to sooth my soul. This time of year has so many indications that Spring is just around the corner that it's hard to stay down for long.

The daffodils are holding forth. 

This spider has caught lunch.

During a particularly strong wind a couple of days ago, this tree was uprooted.

It doesn't get much redder . . . .

Spiders do love the calla lilies!

The water lilies in the pond near our house are starting to surface.