One of my favourite creatures is the spider, amazing, the strength of their web, so finely spun yet, strong enough to hold a struggling fly that has been caught in it. I hope to capture pictures of the webs in the Autumn with the dew upon them, like diamonds, to add to this collection.

Of course not all spiders have webs but use other methods to catch their prey.

This is a photograph of the spider I mentioned on  my index page, it lives in the conifer hedge. Notice the lacy web.

This spider has woven her web to suspend from plant to plant.

Another large spider ran out from the plants while I was watering them. It started to run up the tree trunk, but before moving further up it gave me time to run indoors to grab the camera and get this lovely shot.

Wonderful markings on this little orange spider.

Different coloured markings on these spiders, but the same species as the orange one above.

I came across this fabulous spider when I was doing some weeding, it is huge. The body was the size of a 10p coin. What a body weight to carry around!! (Click on each picture to enlarge)

    This picture shows the markings. 

No wonder these spiders grow large look at the size of its lunch!

These are both the same spider, a back and front view. Although I have looked, I have never seen it out in the day only at night. It lives in the conifer hedge during the day, and then spins a fresh web from the hedge to the garage wall every night.

Some of the spiders are so tiny one can hardly see them. Can you spot it on the petals of this flower?

A brown spider, but even then not plain, with a stripe down the back.

Now these spiders are just amazing, firstly the cream one with a large round body and very long legs. Notice the markings on the body.

 This one is slightly smaller and pale lemon in colour.

I came across this spider on the foxglove in my garden. In the sunlight it looked golden in colour.

  Unbelievable markings on this little spider.( It is a jumping spider, the salticus scenicus)

A highly coloured spider with translucent legs.     A lovely yellow body on this one. (Click to enlarge)

I found this spider hiding under the rock, so I encouraged it out by touching its leg, to enable a better shot to be taken. A strange looking beastie!

20mm long in the body, with beady eyes.

As I turned the leaf over in my hunt for these beautiful creatures, this wonderful little spider below, with such a beautifully patterned body, ran towards her nest of babies to protect them. You will see from the photographs how she is at first mounting the nest, then giving it the full protection of her body. I presume the red stripes down her back denote a warning to other creatures. (Click to enlarge images)

                                                                                                  Unusual to see a white spider.

Another spider protecting her young.

                                                                           A very fast mover this one

Such a tiny spider.

The house spider below ran out of the laundry basket when I emptied it!!!

A body that looks like silk on this one.

I now come to the not so beautiful, the garden snail. Yes, I know it eats our garden flowers, but is also at risk it self from predators, and does have some beauty of its own, in its shell and the formation of it. So I just had to include it here.

            This is a baby snail only 15mm long.

Here we have the crustacean. These are known as woodlouse. There are five main types in England. Here are two of them that I found when I was clearing the garden, of dying spring flowers. They are nocturnal and live on dead foliage.

This one is often known as the pill bug. As it rolls into a small ball, like a pill, when threatened.

 This centipede was found on the underside of an old log, running very quickly, having so many legs to use.

Of course we must not forget the common garden worm. This creature keeps the soil aerated and in good condition. It is also enjoyed very much as a tasty meal by many birds and frogs!

    The not so attractive slug but it does do a job of clearing the garden of decaying matter.

I wonder what insect or creature this chrysalis in going to turn into. You can already see the development of the wings and body inside it.

I was not quite sure where to place these creatures as caterpillars are the larvae of the butterfly and moth. Its metamorphosis inside the case of the pupa in quite a marvel, to emerge at a later time as an adult insect.

Tiny caterpillars munching their way through my rose leaves!!! Caterpillars of the large white butterfly.

   Striking colours on this caterpillar of the Mullion Moth

              A very furry one here!            

This is the caterpillar of the vapourer moth.                         Here it is developing into a pupa.

This is one of the largest caterpillar I have ever seen in my garden. In size it is the same length and thickness as my little finger. Notice the raised head and spike of a tail. It is the caterpillar of the privet hawk moth.

Another large one is this Elephant Hawk moth (D. elgenor) caterpillar. It devoured the leaves of my fuchsia. (Click to enlarge).

A tussock moth caterpillar. (Click to enlarge)

I must now confess the following are not from my garden but from my mothers. She has large trees growing in her garden and they are home to many squirrels.

                             Common grey squirrel.

The following was so unusual I had to add it to my collection of creatures as it is only the second time I have ever seen a white one.

It is 11.30pm, I had just opened the back door and saw this hedgehog.                                                                                        Luckily he stayed around long enough for me to take a picture. (Click to enlarge)                                                                                 

                        This little house mouse I found eating the bird seed.  

                                                                                  Must be the healthiest mouse in our area! (Click to enlarge)

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