Spider season

There are spiders in the yard all season long, but it seems like they are particularly noticeable as autumn approaches. The front porch is festooned with webs, which I don't mind as long as the resident arachnids stay outside. I'll sweep them down just before Halloween.

According to this site, there are reasons spiders seem more prevalent in the fall. For one thing, the spiders that hatched in the spring are now full grown, and the males are seeking females for mating. They also may be seeking warmer quarters, like near crevices and doorways. I've had to stop a few trying to sneak inside when I'm holding the door open for the pets.

This is the first year for swamp milkweed in my rain garden. Besides them surprising me with blossoms, they are forming seed pods.

Usually, yard waste goes into a compost pile by the shed, but this year I decided the weedy stuff should go elsewhere, along with its weed seeds. I thought the city would pick it up separate from the regular trash, but I was wrong. They say to just throw it into the bins, except for leaves which they do pick up. Hmmm.

The temps have been moderate lately, making for pleasant days, but we could use some rain.