Throughout much of the summer I posted photos Black and Yellow Garden Orbweaver spiders (Argiope aurantia). Having not spotted one in several weeks, that they were gone until next year. I was happy to be wrong, however, and photographed one yesterday. I was even more delighted that the background colors work well for autumn and for Halloween (and nothing says Halloween more than a creepy spider).
Autumn spider
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Amazing spiders – when I was in Australia, we had one in our back yard, weaving it’s web at night and disappearing during the day…
I am utterly fascinated by these spiders, which I find to be strangely beautiful. I did some research on the internet about them and observed them a lot (including seeing one catch and wrap up a bee that wandered into the web). From a photographic perspective, they are big enough that I can get good detail without having to get outrageously close.
Congradulations on the garden spider. It is late in the year. Makes a perfect fall picture.
Thanks. This is my first year paying attention to birds and bugs and plants, so I am never sure what “normal” is for seasonal variations.
Oh, you’re going to have so many years of constantly learning the finer workings of nature. Enjoy your journey!