 Make Room for a Spider
You might want to duck your head as you step out the door in the morning. Chances are a tiny artist has been hard at work creating a beautiful work of art.
It’s autumn, and along with the crisp clear days come spiders. Sparkling dew drops outline delicate lacy webs. It’s hard to miss this beautiful display in the morning sunshine.
August is mating time for spiders who are reaching the end of their life cycle. In September, females are busy spinning nests to hold up to 800 eggs that will hatch in the springtime. When spring comes, the eggs will hatch and tiny spiderlings can be seen “flying” on a thread of silk to spread throughout the garden. They are now ready to start the cycle again.
Take a closer look at the sparkling web in your garden; in the center you are likely to see a pretty jewel patiently waiting for a bite to eat.
Some spiders don’t spin webs.
They hunt. Like the wolf and jumping spider.
All spiders have fangs.
 Friend Not Foe, in Most Cases.
Mention the word spider, and some people run in the other direction. Spiders may look scary, but most are harmless.
Spiders help us out by eating many insects that can be pests in the garden and around the house. Even the greatly feared tarantula is really a harmless giant.
There is one lady, however, who should be avoided at all costs. The Black Widow spider is as dangerous as her reputation. A small glossy black spider with long legs and a bright red hour-glass shape on her belly, she makes herself a widow by eating her husband for a snack. She likes to hide in undisturbed places like wood piles and sheds. The bite of a Black Widow can be very dangerous. She’s nobody to fool with.
2000 Chesapeake Cup Awarded: Summer Reading Pays Off.
This year’s summer reading program, sponsored by the Anne Arundel County Public Library, was a great success. Top honors go to Bodkin Elementary School of Pasadena and Aleph Bet Jewish Day School of Annapolis. These schools had the highest percentage of student readers. Each school will keep their cup to display during the school year, a pleasant reminder of a job well done.
Hearty Congratulations to these busy summer readers!
Kids' Calendar
A Harry Potter Happening
Fri. Oct. 6 (5-7pm)-Come costumed and ready to have fun at A Harry Potter Happening, Barnes & Noble’s party of wizardry, monstrous morsels, howling prizes, face painting, balloons and more. Come in costume just for fun or to compete in the Harry Potter for a look-alike contest. On the deck, Annapolis Harbour Center: 410/573-1115.
Create a Keychain Popper
Sun. Oct. 8 (noon-2)-Create your own groovy backpack adornment with snap-together key chain kits from Wild Planet. Ages 7+. Zany Brainy, Annapolis Harbour Center: 410/266-1447.
Wildcats Picnic
Sun. Oct. 8 (2-5pm)-Interested in playing spring soccer, lacrosse, baseball, coach pitch or T-ball for the Wildcats? Sign up now at United Youth Club’s Spring Sport Picnic. The club has hot dogs, burgers and drinks; families bring a covered dish to share plus blankets and lawn chairs. Tracey’s Park, Tracey’s Landing: 301/261-5080.
Who’s the Greatest Parent?
Sat. Oct. 14 (4pm)-Just how talented are your parents? Find out at the Greatest Parents Contest, where boys and girls enter one or both folks to compete in bubble blowing, egg balancing, coloring, a blindfolded obstacle course and more. Southern Community Center, Lusby: 410/586-1101.
Medicine Moon
Sat. Oct. 14 (7:30-9:30pm)-Plants hold secrets to healing, and new secrets are still being discovered. Gather around a campfire to learn how ancient people relied on healing plants and how they passed what they knew down through generations. Hear a Native American story about the plants’ origin and learn about local flora. Flag Ponds Nature Park, Lusby. $3; rsvp: 410/535-5327
Copyright 2000
Bay Weekly
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