It’s That Time of Year

Autumn’s here. And for some reason that means that the big spiders are out.

So here’s a few pictures of one on my deck.

Fall seems to be the time that big spiders really make their appearance. From what I’ve read, it’s mostly the females getting ready to lay large egg sacs that can overwinter.

This one was right across the staired entryway to my deck.

Fall Spider

It is some sort of orb-weaver (probably in the genus Araneus). Here is the topside.

Topside

Here’s another look at the underside. (It’s upside-down, in case you hadn’t noticed. It was also eating something.)

Munch, Munch

How about a close-up of its spinnerette?

Spinnerette

And finally, just to cleanse your palate a little bit, he’s a shot of a rose that was right next to the spider.

A Rose is a Rose

This is from the one-and-only rose bush on our property, given to my wife on Mother’s Day by our son a year-and-a-bit ago. For some reason, I’m not real fond of plants with thorns that can get littered on the ground where I walk.