Spooky garden visitors

September 28, 2016


It’s not even Halloween month yet, and we’ve had a few spooky garden visitors…or should I say, spooky residents? Exhibit A: a coral snake in the swimming pool. I heard my husband’s startled reaction as he reached into the skimmer yesterday afternoon and found himself hand-to-face with the highly venomous serpent. Coral snake! he shouted, and I ran to get my camera.


Little Coral was equally startled and shot across the pool, proving herself an accomplished swimmer. She did two long laps before tiring, giving us a good look. Yup, there’s that “red and yellow, kill a fellow” coloration.


Seeing how tiny she was, however (about 16 inches long), and knowing coral snakes’ mouths are too small to easily pierce human skin (except perhaps the thin webbing between your fingers; whew, close one, David!), we weren’t too worried. David netted her out of the pool, and we set her free against the chain-link fence in the lower garden, nudging her toward the greenbelt on the other side. I doubt we’ll see her again.

But I’ll keep an eye out, just in case.


Exhibit B: spider season. At this time of year, black-and-yellow garden spiders are big enough to give you a scare…if you happen to be scared of spiders. I confess I am, but these ladies are beneficial, and so long as they don’t build their intricate webs across a pathway, I leave them be.


We have two (that I know of) in the back garden: Aragog…


…and Shelob, who was snacking on something big the other day. At first I thought, with dismay, that it was a monarch butterfly. Then I had a moment of horror thinking it was a hummingbird. (Is that even possible?) Hummers do love the Mexican honeysuckle, where the spiders are lurking.


But now I think it’s a cicada. No loss there. What do you think?

And are you seeing any spooky critters in your garden lately?

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Digging Deeper: News and Upcoming Events

Austinites and native-plant shoppers, I’ll be at the member’s day Fall Plant Sale at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center on October 14, and I hope to see you there! I’ll be signing books between 1 and 3 pm in the Wild Ideas gift shop. If you’re not a member, of course you can still come on out and see the gardens and stop in at Wild Ideas. Hope to see you there!

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9 responses to “Spooky garden visitors”

  1. Alison says:

    We don’t get the black and yellow garden spiders, but we do get a lot of smaller, but just as wonderfully predatory orb-weaving cross spiders, here (Aranaeus diadematus). Right now I have at least 6 or 7 of those living in my garden. One was inside the greenhouse. I caught her on the end of a broom and dropped her outside in a bed. I knew if I left her inside I’d forget and walk right into her one day.

  2. Kris P says:

    Yikes! The snake would have freaked me out, even if it was small. I’ve never heard of coral snakes here but there are rattlers. I’m not as afraid of spiders but it’s never pleasant to walk into one’s web, as I did just this morning. I should’ve known better as this spider keeps building in the same spot – you’d think she’d find a better location given the number of times I’ve torn down her web which I’ve no way of working around.

  3. I used to have black and yellow spiders in my garden in the fall but haven’t seen one in a few years. The Coral snake is a beauty. I am glad it was a small one and didn’t give you any trouble. Texas is the only place I have ever seen one. I am glad they aren’t around here. Like you say, Spooky.

  4. Jenn B says:

    Cicada?? Definitely a hobbit. Probably The Elija Wood one…

    That snake though!