This Natural World - Spiderwebs and Sunflowers

I might not have seen these beautiful webs that were catching the morning sunlight, if my husband, Don, hadn't called me outside. Dew clung everywhere and the mist was still close to the ground.

Don wondered where the owner of this web was.

This spider sits right in the center- it's a lot smaller than I would have thought.

Abbey sits and watches us. This fence post gives her a great view of the small creatures of the field, and offers her the best vantage point for surprise attacks. She's an undeterred hunter. I've tried, but she represents a certain link in the food chain that disadvantages the poor little furry things. Alas to those that don't run faster, or move more stealthily. On to the sunflowers...
I love sunflowers and plant as many as I can every spring. This garden is in full bloom and it is buzzing with activity. Quite literally. My second garden of sunflowers decided to turn away from me this year and face only the rising sun, instead of it's full afternoon blaze. I'm not sure why this is - in past years the friendly smiles of the blooms looked my way all day long.

Yellow Lite

Mammoth

Autumn Mix

Felis Sylvestris Catus

Gold in my Garden - June 2010

My garden is only partly about the flowers that grow in it, although I do love them. It's the place that I go at the end of my studio day - and sometimes right in the middle of it - to sit, to dig, to explore, and to observe. Insects fascinate me and I'm keeping my eye on a cluster of golden eggs that are sitting on a tall Spiderwort leaf.

I'm not sure what they'll hatch into, but after searching images on the internet, I think they'll be Ladybeetles. It's always a great treat to find them just as their wings harden and they fly for the very first time.

Ladybug! Ladybug!
Fly away home.
Your house is on fire.
And your children all gone.

All except one,
And that's little Ann,
For she crept under
The frying pan.