underleaf orb weaver rests for evening
.
.
.
August 12, 2018
June 17, 2015
July 26, 2013
October 26, 2012
June 8, 2012
Surely a spider’s beauty includes its ability to stay hidden in plain sight.
A venusta orchard spider, for example, often shows the taller world an intricately patterned bottom side that blends well to the background of its shrub-spun web.
And those of us who would glimpse a distinctly different side of the spider
must take a knee before it …
decreasing, so to speak, to witness its increase.
The vision, then, is ours.
For, seen or not, the spider carries on in its usual way — spidering.
And we decide, based on how we go about seeing, how to be ourselves.
.
September 27, 2010
This, I believe, is Hentz’s orbweaver, neoscona crucifera.
Every evening we try to avoid walking through the artisan hunter’s impressive new wheel-like web.
It spans the doorway from awning to fence and, by morning, is tattered by nocturnal hunting success.
Then, in light of day, the spider generally tucks away in the shelter of a corner window edge.
Here it ventures forth to snag and wrap a stink bug snack for later.
.