Summer's gone? 09/09/2008
 

How did that happen?  Seriously, how?  Just like that, the nights have become chilly.  Autumn is hovering nearby.  I'll tell you, I would like fall a lot more if it didn't lead ultimately to winter.

<clapping hands over ears> La la la la la I'm not listening!!!

So this has been the Summer of the Tomato.  Of the 30 plants we started with this year, 29 survived the guineas.  No, they didn't just survive; they thrived!  Consequently, I have been buried under an avalanche of tomatoes from the abundant harvest.  (The green ones were picked by an overzealous 3 year old boy, but that's okay because we love to eat fried green tomatoes.)

I have either canned or frozen many gallons of salsa and tomato sauce.  I have dehydrated pounds and pounds of tomatoes.  I have canned tomato quarters and even tomatoe puree.  We have eaten dozens of tomato and mayonnaise sandwiches on fresh-baked whole grain bread.

Apparently, we are not the only creatures on the farm that love tomatoes.  Roger discovered a squatter who lives in the tomato garden.

That is the biggest, grossest spider I have ever seen and is the sole reason why I will never set foot in the tomato garden again.  Do you know what kind of spider that is?  I don't know and would like to find out, but that would require a Google search and the potential of looking at dozens of photos of icky spiders and I just don't think I have that kind of fortitude.  So if you know what this spider is and if my children are in imminent danger, please email me.  Ok?  Thanks.

 


Comments

Adrienne
09/17/2008 11:52

GROSS!!! Creepy spider, be gone!

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Alison link
09/18/2008 10:13

I have been informed that it's not going anywhere. Apparently it eats its web every night and builds a new one in the morning. The kids are fascinated. I am grossed out but resigned to its existence because it does eat bugs that we don't want in the garden.

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Maria
11/24/2008 22:22

OMG! It looks huge!

Did you ever figure out what kind it was?

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Alison link
11/28/2008 07:00

I found out quite by accident, because believe me, I had no intention of doing a Google search for it. But my 3rd grader recognized it from his science book, so I was forced to corroborate. It's a black and yellow garden spider. Apparently it's a very common spider for gardens and not only completely harmless to humans, but beneficial too.

I still think it's the creepiest spider I've ever seen, but at least I know it's not going to carry off my children.

http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/black_and_yellow_argiope.htm

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Carleigh
02/21/2009 13:40

We call those Writing Spiders because the center of their web appears as if they have written something in it.

You were very lucky to have a Writing Spider and wow, look how BIG she is!

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