By Yvonne Kunz.
The Roadside Web. Photo by Yvonne Kunz.
Does anyone remember the old nursery rhyme that involves a little girl, a low stool, some runny cottage cheese, and a spider? Miss M’s reaction is pretty typical. However, my view of spiders, when they are not sitting beside me, is that they are fascinating and magical. Let me tell you why.
First, I love their different forms. From a brightly decorated orb spider setting up shop at the end of a neighbor’s driveway to a tiny translucent spider, I found hanging around my basement one day. And then there are their webs. From the classic spoke wheel to what I call a crazy quilt configuration. But here comes the magic…
Did you know a web can split white light like a prism? I know! Crazy cool, right?!? Every season since I first noticed this phenomenon, I’ve attempted to capture these miniature firework displays.
This season I headed down the street to a local park to see what I could find. On the way, I saw a roadside web at the edge of my neighbor’s yard. Not quite what I was looking for but what the heck! I took a few shots while being careful not to get run over. In the park, I found a beautiful web under the shelter of a tree. It was occupied by a small orchard spider. The sunlight was hitting it at just the right angle to show off the web’s magic in the gentle breeze. Perfect! Just what I was hoping for! I snapped away and then headed back home to see if I had been successful. And there they were! The splits of light!
The roadside image looked like a fireworks display blossoming in the night sky. And the image from the park made me think of how music might look if I could see it in color. Wow, what a good day!
Spiders – creepy crawlies or magical dream spinners? Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder. You decide. I just encourage you to look for and really see the beauty in the everyday things around you. I think you will be pleasantly surprised and delighted to see the magic waiting there - just for you!
The Dream Spinner at the Park. Photo by Yvonne Kunz.
The Orb Spider. Photo by Yvonne Kunz.