Cooler and sunny

All is well in spider-land. There are at least two males hanging out with the argiope. You can see one between her front legs but it is out of focus because it's really behind her. There are also a bunch of small black spiders with fat abdomens about the size of a corsage pin bead, but I haven't seen any red markings.

Once again wispy cirrus clouds are giving way to thunderheads out of the Southwest. But they're just passing through. An egret fished from the floating dock. I saw a brown thrasher and later heard either it of a mockingbird giving a concert. A gray hairstreak visited the rosemary and I glimpsed a black swallowtail and a cabbage butterfly. Some dragonflies zoomed through without pause.

The pool water is about 76F, not quite too cool. The skimmer was just full of fishing spiders.

after the storm

Things have a well-scrubbed look and the sun is shining. Birds are hungry, cardinals and chickadees at the feeder, egrets by the dam outflow, and a hummingbird appeared! Geese were flying maneuvers. Later cormorants flocked but without the precision of geese.

The spider came through the storm as did her mate. Although, the other day there were two males and now I only see one. More red hibiscus have popped out. The rosemary is humming with tiny halactid bees, large bumblebees, and an occasional skipper.

I went for what may be the last swim of the season - cool but not uncomfortable. Then very threatening clouds rolled in from the Southwest, but just passed on through. A kingfisher announced himself as he perched on a dock piling. A red-bellied woodpecker was very raucous as he ate acorns. I don't know why some birds feel compelled to call attention to themselves, but it is very helpful.

Veiled sun, thin overcast

I think I remember this kind of sky being a weather predictor. Stratus, I think. I rehung the hummer feeder even though I haven't seen one in two weeks. If no migrants show up, this will be the last time this season.

The sky has cleared and gotten hot and humid. Cream puff clouds are streaming North. The skink scuttled across the patio at lunch. A black swallowtail and later a fritillary flitted by. Lots of bees or all sizes and species are working on the rosemary. Damselflies have taken over the creek and I don't see any dragonflies.

And now, around 5pm) we have a thunderstorm and heavy rain. Some spectacular lightning strikes. Maybe hail? The power flickered repeatedly and from FB I see others lost power. I certainly wasn't expecting this today.

Breathless, still and humid

There are large patches of slime mold under the fig trees. The mushrooms are moldy! The air is barely moving.

I surprised the rabbit who was apparently napping under the oleander. A gorgeous tiger moth with peach underwings showed up on the wall of the house. Fortunately it was well away from the spider.

Morning glories, roses, rosemary, one hibiscus flower, goldenrod and a few gardenias are blooming.

Finally we had the tree people in to take care of the mess left by the May storm and by Irene.

Drying out

A brief glimpse of sun. Two crows, one perched on the pool rim, the other on the railing - I cannot guess what interested them in the pool, but as soon as I moved (inside the house) toward the camera, they flew off. Then a squadron of geese came barreling down the creek.

The newspaper has noticed the fairy ring mushrooms. It says they are Chlorophyllum molybdites. The russalas hide in the grass, but they too form arcs.

The sun is staying for longer intervals, but the clouds still threaten and wet surfaces are not drying.

Dripping

The sky is gray. Everything is wet and dripping. I went out in front last night to look at the sunset and surprised the rabbit. The sunset colors were like an old bruise - I think lurid is the term.

I noticed more russula mushrooms in the lawn. So this morning I went on a mushroom hunt. Both red and green russulas are in the grass. Something white is coming up where the oak was. More brown parasols everywhere. And, the winner, a stinkhorn in all it phallic glory!

Madam Argiope continues well, as does her suitor, which I suspect means they have not yet mated. The afternoon brought yet more rain.

Fogged windows

Fogged up the camera lens too. Wetness everywhere - 6 inches of rain so far this month.

Mushrooms are everywhere as well. The front mulch bed smells strongly of mushroom. There are more little brown parasols and a couple of larger, ragged-looking reddish gill mushrooms, maybe russula. Many other yards have fairy rings of white mushrooms.

At lunch, a squirrel scampered past with a pecan in its mouth. Why don't I ever find any pecans under the tree?

The argiope continues to prosper. She fattened up considerably after the moth and looks ready to lay eggs. She was busy with the web again today - the threads show up faintly across the top of the porch light. It is fascinating to see her move through the air and then dab a spot with the tip of her abdomen to tack the thread in place. The spider that I suspect is her mate is lurking in the lower right edge next to the door frame. At least she is tolerating its presence.