efprince's Blog

Spiders, hummers, and other stuff
Sep 1, 2009 | 7:25 PM PST
Tags: spider , black-eyed susan vine , hummingbird , ruby-throated hummingbird , thunbergia , pecan trees , pecan farming

I've been watching this spider for a while. He's on my office window, right above my shaded flower bed. For the most part, he just hangs there and he doesn't bother me and I don't bother him. I am not one of those women who are afraid of spiders, as long as they don't bother me, I don't bother them. But then again, I'm new to living in Texas and I don't really know all about the spiders here - so I've been keeping my distance - there's a pane of glass between us. The other day, he devoured a grasshopper that was bigger than he was. And then I think he tried to capture one of the hummingbirds just a couple of days ago. All in all, it's been interesting. And I sure do think he's pretty - I suppose that means he's very poisinous.

that kinky sort of ribbon is what he hangs down on to catch his prey.

He didn't have any luck catching the hummer. They are in full combat mode - the hummers that is. I have six hummingbird feeders, you'd think they could share, but no, they each stake out their own and stand watch and the minute another hummer comes near, they chase them away. It's scary to be near those feeders sometimes - they are like dive-bombers. This male ruby-throated sits on the pole of my bird-feeding station and keeps watch over "his" three feeders on my office window. I like the juxtapostion of him next to the cut-out bird on the top of the pole.

 

As I took my life in my hands strolling among the spiders and dive-bombing hummers this morning, I also took a picture of this Thunbergia which I started way last March or April from seed and which has never quite died, but has never quite produced either. It had one tiny little flower and that's all. Now that it has cooled off a bit here, it seems to be growing better - but still no blooms. I'm thinking maybe this spot is too shady - it's under the eaves by the carport.

 

I know it's a tacky hanger, but it has sentimental value! I've never tried to grow one of these before, if anyone has any ideas I'm always open to suggestions. (there's always next year!).

Pecans are starting to fall from the trees already and I can hardly walk through the garden without stepping on a pecan - but they are still very, very green. I'm not sure why they are dropping so early - I'm not a pecan farmer, so I just don't know.

My landlords stopped by the other day, Barbara told me that when her in-laws lived in this house, their gardens stretched all the way from the house to the fence at the front of the yard. I am going to have to do some kind of gardening to match that! There are 4 rows of pecan trees between me and that fence! LOL! I can see it in my mind, but I don't know if my body is up to it!