Big Pink Farm

 
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

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:52:18

GROSS!!! Creepy spider, be gone!

 

Alison

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 10:13:58

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.

 

Maria

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:22:50

OMG! It looks huge!

Did you ever figure out what kind it was?

 

Alison

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 07:00:18

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

 

Carleigh

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 13:40:36

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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