the passionate observer

hello sweet white spider living high atop your castle of white phlox blossoms ... hello

I was beyond thrilled to discover this small white spider while prowling around in the tangled front gardens of 29 Black Street. I actually noticed him first while posting yesterdays series of photos - if you check back, you'll find him in the third photo* from the bottom. Later I went outside, camera in tow, looking for him and sure enough there he sat basking in the sunshine at the very top of the huge clump of scented white phlox that grows at the edge of our driveway. Unfortunately my presence alarmed him and he scurried quite quickly for cover ... I will return and I'm hoping that in the ways of Gerald Durrell (another hero of mine) this spider will become acquainted with me and allow me to take a much finer portrait of he or she.

Thinking of spiders, and August seems to be the best month for observing spiders, reminded me as well of Henri Fabre and I rushed to my own library of insect books and grabbed this beautifully illustrated book (cover below). He also wrote a real page turner The Life of the Spider, a more fascinating & complex creature you'll be hard pressed to find ... trust me.

Oh my ... I so could have been an entomologist.

Seek those who find your road agreeable,
your personality and mind stimulating,
your philosophy acceptable, and your experiences helpful.
Let those who do not, seek their own kind.

Jean Henri Fabre

* 8th photo from the bottom yesterday, a big fat yellow neighbour spider climbing the pinks