Insects

Macro Monday – Golden Orb Spider

/ Leya / 15 kommentarer

I admit it is elegant and beautiful… about 50mm body and at least 50mm legs.

The female is a giant and the male a dwarf in comparison. Several males can sit in the web, waiting for an opportunity to mate. If they move too fast though, they will be her prey instead of her lover.

Leaving a line of waste is done to protect the net from birds flying into it.

Spiders are not my favourite animals, but our ranger’s story made it fascinating. Their bite is harmless and comparable to a bee sting. Their webs are strong enough to stop small birds in mid-flight. The silk is as strong as Kevlar, which is the strongest known man made material.

Thursday Thoughts – A Fascinating Meeting

/ Leya / 38 kommentarer

Every year I am eagerly looking for a little creature that I first met in France, and then – in September 2022 it visited my own garden!

The Hummingbird Hawkmoth. When I first saw it in that European garden many years ago, I thought it was a hummingbird – but knew it couldn’t be… So fast, so energetic and so beautiful.

Then a couple of these fasciating creatures visited my garden, 2022 and 2023. Nothing last year…I even planted this particular salvia to make them come back to me.

Then suddenly, last week, when we had a spell of summer again – I saw one of them in my Buddleia! The salvias were almost gone, so I really had given up hope for this year too. It was too dark for photos though – you have to make do with the old ones.

Little things – they make me happy. And – we should never give up hope, should we?

Thursday Thoughts – Dreams from Holland

/ Leya / 38 kommentarer

Back to Holland again – and some lovely plants from botanical gardens in Amsterdam and Leiden.

But this photo is from the flower market along one of the canals. The red flower in the lower right corner is a Gloriosa – a climber I have tried several times… but cannot make thrive at home.

A different way to use a palm house – every plant in a separate barrel.

I love these – and I know that Cee Neuner has posted ”the real thing” many times!

More from the pond and the wetlands of the gardens.

Now I am longing for summer again…

Aren’t you?