Predators on the Porch

This week I observed a couple of predators on the porch. This praying mantis is almost five inches long. When I was taking his photo he was watching me with his compound eyes.

He moved from the deck to the outside railing. I'm leaning over the railing and he's watching me as if I'm prey, rather intimidating.

This spider spent most of a week making this huge web between the roof and the deck railing. When we blow on the web he runs to the top quicker than lightening. He's left now and his web is gone as well. Must have found a nicer place to live.

Off to the farmer's market this morning, hope the rain doesn't keep folks away like last week. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Little Things Like No-See-Ums

The other day when we went to the fish market, Gary went inside to get the fish and I walked around to harvest some leaves. While I was walking around I saw these wonderful climbing wild aster blooming.

The large heart shaped leaves are kudzu, the aster has the smaller darker green leaves.

Later I noticed some bamboo bark lying on the ground. I collected these three pieces to bring home with me. As I was getting in the car Gary said he had been bitten on his legs by no-see-ums. They itched him for over a week. I was spared as they were near the water and I didn't go over there. When we got home, I had Gary rub baking soda water on his legs which helped with the itching, and he used some lavender spritzer which also helped. Gary counted 92 bites on his legs; only Gary would count them. Ha.

At home out by our pool we noticed this strange spider and found out it's a spiny backed orb weaver.  Sometimes the little things in life are just what's needed like flowers, other times not, like no-see-ums. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.