We’ve done it again! For the second year in a row, we managed to accidentally allow the bushes in our big wooden porch planters to die. Oh the shame.
Chalk it up to a miscommunication. Sherry thought I was watering them. I thought she was. Clara didn’t have a clue who was watering what (or what watering even is) and all the while Burger was “watering” plants in the back. By the time we realized our folly it was too late (although Sherry desperately dumped five cups of water a day on them for the last few weeks to no avail). So I’d say we’re equally to blame for our plants getting a bit on the crispy side. And we’re sad. But we had to fess up and keep it real, so there you have it. Picture us looking shamefaced at the ground and vowing to do better next time.
Since fall is upon us, we took a page from our own book and, like last year, picked up two yellow mums at Home Depot (for $18 total) to take their place. But there was a new element to deal with this year. In case you missed it in the first photo, let’s take a closer look (warning: there’s about to be a close up photo of a spider)…
…and, if you can stomach it, let’s go even closer (here it comes)…
There it was. Feel free to blame any nightmares you have tonight on us. Is that not the most scary, hermit-crab-looking spider you’ve ever seen? And are those long pointy legs not the most villainous limbs you’ve seen in a while? He’s practically making the skull and cross bone shape you see on poisonous bottles like arsenic. And because we weren’t about to hold up a dollar bill for scale, you can’t tell just how big he is. But if you scroll back to the picture above this one you’ll see that he’s about half as big as the light bulb. Which is giant. And terrifying.
We discovered our new “friend” at the start of this mum project. Who knows how long he had been hanging out there (since we rarely use the front door). But one thing was for sure: he wanted to eat our faces off (according to my always trustworthy internet research, human face is a delicacy amongst the giant spider species). Okay, maybe not. But he still was not something I wanted to be around.
So as fast as I could, I yanked the dead bushes out of their planters…
…and plopped the new mums (containers and all) in their place, right on top of the leftover dirt.
Not bad for a speedy planting job, if I do say so myself.
And since these babies are hardy, we’ll plant them (not in their pots) somewhere else in our yard after the fall season. You know, so we won’t have to wait three more seasons for them to look good again on the porch.
Best part about it? The spider didn’t dive bomb my pretty little head in the process. Good spider, good spider…
Having come out of this unscathed, I was eager to snap my “after” photo and call it day (of course we still need a new doormat and have larger porch plans – like framing out the columns, painting the wood siding, and staining the concrete floor).
But stepping away now would let the bad guys spiders win. I know they’re “good pests” but they’re not so welcome at face height right outside the front door. So I used my trusty broom and gave its web a quick swing, in hopes of not-too-harshly evicting my eight-legged visitor…
In a surprise turn of spider-related events, he jumped into one of our new mums. Oh the irony.
He seemed ok with it (meaning he didn’t eat my face).
Oh, and FYI – the spider has now changed addresses and lives in the mum on the left. Thought you should be warned in case you’re planning to come sell us some Girl Scout cookies or something.
Pssst- The lady-wife did a fun little phone interview that just went live here (click the play button next to the little audio sign over on the site to listen in). Oh yeah, and click here to see this week’s lucky Ikea gift card winners.
Meryn says
Those black and yellow garden spiders are freaky looking! You guys are braver than I! … Although I do have to admit, I think it’s a lucky twist of fate that those type of spiders spin “ORB webs”… coincidence that it picked Sherry’s porch? I think not! :0)
cecily B says
Glad you let the scary girl live. She’s great at eating aphids, flies, grasshoppers, bees, and wasps. I usually have a few around my NC garden every year, usually around my compost bin (lots of fruit flies to eat I guess). I try to leave them alone and they leave me alone. Interestingly enough, each night, they eat their web and build a new one.
As far as the mums go, maybe you can set up a drip system by punching a hole or two in the bottom of a liter soda bottle and hiding it behind the mum so guests at your front door don’t notice it. Water will drip out ever so slowly and “self-water” your mums. Just check your water bottles about every week to refill. Good luck – with the mums and Miss Sunny-Patch spider!
John says
I would have messed my pants if I saw that by my door. So freaky! Door looks great by the way!
Kate says
Oh how I’ve been there…. Have you thought about getting some drippers for the pots? Oxfam sell some fair trade, but you could probably get them from a bunch of places or even try to make some yourselves? (hint hint…..)
Kate says
I meant to add the link!
http://www.oxfamshop.org.au/products/5559936/81376
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tip! We definitely love that idea!
xo,
s
Dawn says
You solved a mystery for me too – we had the same spider on our sliding glass door in our basement! It was HUGE! I’ve never seen one like it before, so I took a picture and put it on facebook, then ran screaming into the house for my husband!
Of course, he doesn’t like to kill spiders because he said they are good (which they may be, but they aren’t good when they are on my door!), but I was totally freaked out! Now, everytime I pass that door, I always look for another spider.
At least he matches your door and mums! Have a great day!
Molly says
Those yellow mums looks so pretty with the yellow door. Unfortunately, the purple mums I bought a few weeks ago are already dying. I’m not sure what I’ve done wrong…I think I’ve been watering them enough, but maybe with all the rain here (Seattle) they’ve gotten too much water…or I just have a black thumb.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man, ours look less than perfect up close! Here’s hoping they hold out at least another month though!
xo,
s
Anna says
Oh my goodness, my daughter came face to face with it’s twin in my garden Saturday afternoon(which then sent my kick-boxing fearless 20 year college student screaming into the house). I clicked a couple of photos and sent them to a friend who said it was a wasp spider, but my (still screaming) daughter said it was a garden spider. I don’t know who was right, but it was huge!
paintergal says
Oh my golly! Yellow door + yellow mums = happy, happy!
I love it.
And you are right about the spider being useful. That is a garden spider. Eats mosquitoes and is very beneficial, albeit a bit scary looking.
Susanna says
I actually think it’s quite considerate of him (her?) to match your grellow color scheme. That said, have you considered moving? I have some unidentified spiders so large in my yards right now I’m considering charging them rent.
rebecca says
Seriously guys. Even the stinking spider on your front porch is coordinated with your mums and front door. Only you guys could swing that! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, how funny is that?! We didn’t even notice until folks started pointing that out!
xo,
s
John says
Great looking door! Get rid of the critter so it can actually be used!
YoungHouseLove says
She’s happily chillin in that planter, so we’ve used that door a bunch!
xo,
s
Alisa says
Thanks a lot! You made me have a dream about a spider after reading this post.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man, so sorry!
xo,
s
Rachel May Bunke says
At least the spider was smart enough to match your decor! I know what you mean though-ever seen a Banana spider? Saw one on our trip to Panama. When they’re THAT big, they aren’t scary anymore, they’re more like pets. But I don’t want them in my house…or near me. Oh forget it, they’re still scary.
Alexis Peck says
we get those spiders here in eastern nc all the time, i was told their banana spiders. funny story we were house hunting and went into a back yard and i loved the house almost got it, untill i walked into a web full of those spiders and refused to buy that house because of that!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I can see how that could put a damper on house hunting!
xo,
s
Amanda says
I read this whole entire post thinking this was Sherry writing. And then, something caught my attention, the word “lady wife”, and scrolled as fast as I could up to the top and saw it was John. I had this little giggle-fest going on when I realized it was John who was spooked by the spider. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- totally John!
xo,
s
Jess says
I had one of those spiders decide to build a web right across my front porch last summer, form porch post to porch post…I didn’t use the front door until it moved away…yikes!!!
Jenny says
ohhhhhh em gee. that spider is ridiculous. but i do love the mums! my hubby and i have also managed to kill two boxwoods, and also tried to revive them at the last minute with lots of water. No luck on that here either! can’t blame us all for trying!
Jaclyn Huntley says
Okay…the first thing I thought was I think that’s an orb spider. Then I realised…
Sherry keeps writing about how much she loves ORB… no wonder she turned up at your door. Talk about mixed messages!
She loves orb,
She loves orb not.
Not My Mother says
I just assumed you’d killed those bushes on purpose for halloween….
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, definitely an accident, but they were scary.
xo,
s
Alicia says
I found two of those spiders in my orchard, they are fantastic!
Kris says
Hi- I love your front door, and the mums look beautiful with it. You should try designing your own welcome mat. I did one this summer. It was super easy, and quick too. Here’s mine: http://kristenbalvin.blogspot.com/2011/08/diy-welcome-mat.html
I’m thinking of making another one for the winter – and using more color. Keep up the good work!
YoungHouseLove says
So cute!
xo,
s
Nicole says
It looks like the classification is right on- an orb spider commonly known as a barn spider, garden spider or best of all- a writer spider. I don’t think anyone mentioned the spider is also the basis for Charlotte A. Cavatica (full name LOL!) in Charlotte’s Web by EB White because of the intricate web it weaves every night. They are considered good luck :) Enjoy!!
Jeannee says
I’m chuckling at your spider story … let me tell you mine!
Here in central Kentucky I’ve seen more bugs than when I lived in the tropical South – so much so, they don’t phase me anymore … until the other night. I was sitting at the kitchen table reading, which means I didn’t have my glasses on, and so my distance is blurry but – darn if that doesn’t look like a tartanula crawling across the floor, about the size of my palm (and I’m a plus-sized gal!). Put my glasses on and realized it was black, with an orange belly, and hairy. Black widow?! Eeewww. So I put a heavy canister on top of it while I tried to figure it out … okay, it should be dead – get a paper towel – I picked up the canister and it was unfolding itself – a friend who is an insect expert said most likely it was a black widow, with an exoskelton ;- I scooped it into the towel, put the towel in the trash – then drowned it with Dawn dishwashing liquid (hey, I’m packing and moving, so my supplies were limited, lol!). S/he is the nicest smelling dead spider ever!!!
Kristin F says
Oh, I miss those spiders! We had several that lived in our front garden in Mechanicsville. The largest decided to spin his (her?) web directly outside our double window in the dining room. He became a part of the family, and was named Herman. Yes, we named our spider. Sadly, we haven’t seen the same type here in SC. :(
Sarah R. says
I just found a big spider on my front porch while I was decorating for Halloween. I decided he/she fit the scheme, so I let him be. I don’t mind spiders since they eat bugs. I just don’t want them having babies in my house and stuff like that.
Tux says
Holy Cow!
I’m sitting here watching “Children of the Corn” (I get really into cheesy horror this time of year) – and your porch spider totally gets a close up in one of the spooooky scenes in the first half of the movie!
I had to pause the movie and let you know!
Samantha says
True Story: I read this post and had a nightmare that the spider was taking over my house. I blame you! But love you’re blog so as long as there are no more spider stories I’ll continue to read. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw man! Sorry about that!
xo,
s
Alice says
I’m mailing you guys a can of bug spray. There are more than enough spiders in the world to feel bad about killing that one. Now he could make his way into your house…ever seen the movie ‘Arachnophobia’?