You'll have to click all these pictures larger to see what's going on. A beautiful golden orb weaver spider has built a huge web very near the main door to our house. You really can't go in the normal way, but have to go around her.
The interesting thing is that she has spun a lovely perfect orb as they usually do. But then she has put about a foot deep very messy web on either side of her orb, as if to protect the orb itself.
She's really a lovely spider, if spiders are your thing. They are better than roaches, right! The hapless little guy at the top is one of the several husbands that have been hanging around. I wonder if he knows he'll be eaten as soon as he has done his duty?
These were all taken a few days ago. She is much larger and thicker in the body now--full of baby spiders, I suppose. From toe to toe, she measures about four inches. I'll keep you posted on what happens.
