In Memory of “My” Spider
Well, gang, she didn’t rebuild… “my” spider… the one I was following all those months in the Clematis vine for my Filaments II series. I was deeply heartened to discover that she had survived the storms we experienced here, as a result of Hurricane Sandy. I was hopeful that she would reconstruct her splendid labyrinth, but, alas, she didn’t. I don’t know what happened to her–if she died, or moved on–but I will always remember her, and look for her relatives who may continue our Filaments collaboration in her stead.
Lemony Shots 
Could she be hibernating for the winter?
December 8, 2012 at 7:27 pm
Maybe! I really, really hope so. 🙂
December 11, 2012 at 2:54 am
“Our” spiders disappear this time of year too. We wonder where they’ve gone.
December 8, 2012 at 7:31 pm
I hope to learn more about what spiders do in the winter! I’ll keep you posted.
December 11, 2012 at 2:54 am
Alas she may never know just how much all of us enjoyed her handiwork….the beautiful webs, her tenacity through the storm, and your joy in capturing it all on film. Hopefully she’s spinning her webs in some other spot or waiting until Spring to surprise you somewhere!
Pam
December 8, 2012 at 7:56 pm
Thank you, Pam, for this uplifting comment. You always have such a wonderful way with words. 🙂
December 11, 2012 at 2:55 am
Don’t worry, they are the Expert of the dark corners.
They know the best place to wait next spring = as they’ve
been doing it since long before we human invented a roof 😀
December 8, 2012 at 7:59 pm
You’re absolutely right! Part of me was certain (based on my photographs) that the patterns in this web were the same as last year’s. I wonder if it wasn’t the same spider as the year before (or certainly her offspring). But I wonder if spiders do have a certain individual pattern to what they weave, and if their webs can be used to identify the spider who made them. I’m very curious about this.
December 11, 2012 at 2:58 am
It is a very interesting question.
It must be the PhD subject.
December 11, 2012 at 6:09 am
Well, if she is gone for good but anything like Charlotte, there’ll be lots of relatives.
I’m heading home tomorrow and will be looking for our Spidey—the one who hangs out in the bathroom skylight. I’m a little concerned that I didn’t see her last week, but hopefully she was just lurking and will have reappeared this week—it’s happened before.
(While it’s slightly unnerving having a spider hanging almost directly over one’s head at delicate moments, we have noticed a significant drop in the number of woodbugs getting in through the skylight—which is one reason why she’s been left alone.)
December 9, 2012 at 5:12 am
We tend to allow the spiders on our walls and ceilings to “hang out,” too. They don’t cause any harm. If they’re crawling around on the floor, we “escort” them to the porch. Our little one is quite skilled at doing this. My partner and I were a bit concerned though because now she isn’t at all afraid of spiders, and so will just pick them up with her hands, which of course wouldn’t always be a very good idea. (We’re moving her away from that obviously.)
December 11, 2012 at 3:15 am
Great shot and a really nice tribute – I really like it that you finished the story for us.
December 9, 2012 at 10:54 am
Thanks, Richard! I hope my spider or someone in her family will return.
December 11, 2012 at 3:16 am
I just realized that I don’t know what happens to spiders in the winter. More nature to read up on!
December 9, 2012 at 1:04 pm
Same here! I’m eager to learn more!
December 11, 2012 at 3:16 am
Hmm me neither, there always seem to be hundreds in September and then hardly any…apart from the HUMUNGOUS ones in the house! Lovely delicate flowers for SSS 😉
December 9, 2012 at 5:13 pm
🙂 Yes, we have lots in the house, too, and seem to let them winter here. These flowers are from earlier in the fall, from SSS’s own home in the Clematis vine. If I were she, I’d be missing them right about now 🙂 .
December 11, 2012 at 3:58 am
From photography to literature… Congrats ! 🙂
(Anyhow the image speaks for itself, and is pure beauty)
mfr
December 9, 2012 at 10:23 pm
A beautiful photograph. My spider has survived wind and rain and Roberto. Her web hangs between two trees exposed to the elements and birds and humans. She rebuilds when a part of her web is destroyed. I have begun to wonder how long spiders live. Your spider will return … or her offspring will. This is a lovely tribute. I like the empty center where she would have been…
December 9, 2012 at 11:21 pm
I’m glad your spider is still hanging in there. I hope my spider will be back. Thank you for seeing the empty center of my photograph. That’s the heart of the photograph for me. 🙂
December 11, 2012 at 4:03 am