The Nature Photography Thread

[ConcinusMan]

Today my hubby was leaving to go to a car show and from outside he called me and wanted me to see something. This is what we saw on the window outside our house. I dont know what kind it is so if you know please tell me please. I took it and let it go behind my shed.I thought it was kinda creepy and cool at the same time. But I didnt kill it.

You don't have to go far back in this thread to see a post I created, showing the same spider species and it's identity. And yes, it's an orb weaver. They're very cool. You can handle them gently too, they don't bite as a general rule and are docile. If bitten, it's itchy but no more serious than a mosquito bite.

http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/176691-post3623.html

European garden spider - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Mrs N1ntndo]

it was huge too. I didnt wanna ever kill it no matter how creepy something looks I will let it go. I dont like to kill nothing. I was thinking an orb spider too but theres so many different kinds.

[guidofatherof5]

Must just be a good year for them here. I've got Orb Weavers everywhere in my backyard.
Glad to see them as their webs are filled with dead mosquitoes in the morning.
It been a banner year for the mosquitoes also. Maybe all the standing water in the area has something to do with that
I'll take spiders over mosquitoes any day.

[ConcinusMan]

It been a banner year for the mosquitoes also. Maybe all the standing water in the area has something to do with that

Naaahh

Some years this spider (the females) get pretty darn huge too by late August. Not this year though. Spring was too cold and wet for them to hatch out early enough. They were a month or two late coming out of their egg sacks. There's plenty of food for them though and if the weather trend keeps up, they'll have another warm month to grow.

[Hazeldarc]

I saw this outside my house in a tree... we get a lot of humming birds

[guidofatherof5]

Very nice. Love those humming birds.

[ConcinusMan]

I saw this outside my house in a tree... we get a lot of humming birds

Yeah, me too. I grow foxgloves (a native wildflower "designed" especially to be pollinated by hummingbirds) and multiple fuchsia's and that really draws them in. We only have Anna's hummers here though. I've even seen them in the dead of winter with a foot of snow on the ground. Not sure how they survive that, but they do.

[guidofatherof5]

My Gabby is so excited as her hard work has paid off.
About a week ago her monarch Caterpillar went into its chrysalis.
This morning that normally green chrysalis was clear and you could see the treasure inside.
Just moments ago a monarch butterfly was born.

Her wings are complete and she's drying. We placed her on the butterfly bush so she can eat as soon as she wants to.
We located 6 more caterpillars out front this morning so we have many more butterflies to come.

[snakehill]

Awesome!!!!

[katach]

That is awesome! What a treat to be able to capture that!