Around this time of year the garden fills with these little Orb Weavers Araneus diadematus. These little spiders are first seen in the spring in little clusters of the tiny spiders holding together in a ball for survival. But as late August roles around these spiders start to get to their largest sizes and fill the yard and garden with their many webs.

Orb weavers come in many types but the ones I see in my yard are sometimes called European Garden spiders ( Also found in North America) or Cross spiders. This little Orb Weaver is harmless to people being docile and not interested in biting unless provoked. It is however a veracious predator in the garden consuming a large variety of insects throughout the spring summer and fall. August and September seem to be the months when the most variety of prey is taken as this is when the spiders are at their largest and most able to take down more powerful opponents. I have witnessed these spiders taking down yellow jacket wasps on occasion using their web to quickly subdue the formidable prey.

Spider Mating a Dangerous Affair

At this stage in the season these spiders also seem to be looking for mates. Mating in this species is a dangerous affair for the male.  You can sometimes witness  the male spider approaching the much larger females while tapping on her web cautiously. If things go wrong, the male is often made into a meal before it has a chance to successfully mate.

These Orb Weavers as the name indicates create beautiful orb shaped webs. They construct and take back down these webs on a regular basis. When the webbing is taken down either by accident or by the spider itself these spiders will often then consume the webbing to recycle it.

It is hard to miss these spiders this time of year in my yard. It is a constant battle not to accidentally walk into their webs. But they are fascinating and important part of the garden and really worth respect and admiration.

Dandelions are the bane of the lawn enthusiasts existence. The beautiful green suburban pastures ruined with these hard to get rid of weeds. But are they really so bad? Or are they even good to have around? Here are a just few reasons why they are actually a good thing for your Garden and the critters that live in it.

Good for the Pollinators

During the early spring many of the pollinators favourite plants are still just getting started for the year. Dandelions however have usually made an appearance and provide much needed food and energy for emerging beneficial insects. One common and important one are Bumble Bee Queens who are out in often cool mornings looking to establish a nest. Dandelions can literally be the difference for the struggling Queens survival.

Helping Garden Predators

Wasps might not be as kindly looked on by people as bees are. They are more fearsome looking than a fuzzy Bumblebee and lets face it, they are a bit pushy when you are enjoying a meal outside, especially the Yellowjacket varsity. But these insects are immensely important for a healthy garden as they are top predators keeping insects who harm plants under control. While adult wasps feed primarily on carbohydrates, they do prey on other insects to feed their growing young. For many wasp, just as bees, Dandelions are an important food source when other sources are not available.

They are Actually Nice to Look At

We are mostly taught to hate weeds, but this has always perplexed me. The flowering Dandelions look very striking and can be a great addition to your garden. On top of that they do not require any maintenance, watering, or fertilizer. They are drought resistant, hardy and can grow almost anywhere. I am not suggesting turning your lawn into a sea of Dandelions but just consider if you need to remove them everywhere. There are many places in the yard where they make great bright yellow additions to the yard and many beneficial critters that will appreciate it.

There are many reasons to like Dandelions and these are just a few. These plants are certainly helpful to people and much healthier to your yard than you might think. The Bee has come a long way in peoples appreciation. Maybe some of the less liked insects and plants will make there way there too.