Spiders, Anyone?

Here are some of our eight legged local personalities:

This is Araneus Diadematus

or the Cross Garden spider, a very shy orb weaver. She remakes her web every evening and is a very good insect control. If you'd like one, I could send one-we have lots!

Here is her handiwork:

This is Micrathena gracilis (no common name). Have you ever seen anything weirder? We see these all over the nearby parks. They are just about a half inch long and spin these fantastic webs over three feet wide sometimes-and usually right across the trails!

See?!