When I tell you that this crab spider is sitting on a zinnia bud and the zinnia bud is less than an inch across, then you can see, that in real life, this spider is very very small. Even in the next shot it’s still twice its actual size.
It’s fascinating to think that the hunting instinct is embodied in such a tiny entity. These spiders (Misumena vatia) do not spin webs to catch their prey. They sneak about in plants, sometimes seemingly taking on the shades of particular flowers as camouflage. And then they pounce!
I think the spider in this next shot is being a trifle ambitious. Can you spot it, lurking on the Doronicum? Also an ID for the bee-like fly would be welcome – Ark, Pete, Brian…
And now here’s a view of the garden, where all of life and death goes on – and under our very noses.
Tish Farrell 
I get to be the first to “like” this morning, Tish. Lovely garden and great job spotting that little spider!
janet
Good on you to be first, Janet. Thank you.
I thought of you yesterday when I started
“Far From Home”, by Amanda Brooks, someone well-known in the fashion industry evidently (but not to me). The book’s about moving to and living in England and full of lovely photos as well as recipes.
https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/amanda-brooks-english-country-house
What a very lovely house and garden. Thanks for the link.
That should have read “Farm from Home.” It’s a lovely book as well.
Wonderful photographs and yes I agree that spider is definitely getting too close for comfort I would think:)
I think they are prepared to take on anything that comes their way. Feisty little critters.
Just gorgeous!
Eat and be eaten is major principle in the world of your beautiful garden, Tish! We often forget that ultimately we are part of it.
We do indeed tend to forget, Peter.
Nature red in tooth and claw, on a miniature scale!
Marvellously miniscule, isn’t it.
It is!
Very impressive borders Tish – it really is an art getting it right in height and colour and interest – especially in this summer. I though at first your insect was a hoverfly of the volucella type but I think now it is Eristalis ?drone fly
Thank you re my borders. All a bit of an accident this year. Some bits I planned but then forgot what I’d done, and then – what with the raised-bed-making exercise being thrust upon me in spring, some things had to be saved by shoving them in anywhere. So what was a planting scheme of sorts keeps surprising me. Which is v. nice, but might require some shuffling for next year. I probably have far too many plants in a small space which is confounded also by a greedy hedge.
Goes to show that sometimes the unplanned is best – Winter might yet sort the borders!
yes indeed. Who knows what kind of a one we’re in for this year.
Just been looking at eristalis pix. Looks pretty good. Thank you. Drone fly is a new one for me.
am a bit of a diptera geek – you might like the Eristalis tenax video on this research page
6000 species and important as alternative pollinators to bees. They get my vote then. We may well need them. Thanks for this link too.
Wow such a beautiful garden! As for the hover fly there are so many, I’m lucky as I have an expert I can e.mail images to, Pete may know though.
Thanks for that accolade. Laura tells me it’s Eristalis tenax. And I believe her 🙂
Lovely to have someone id these tricky things.
It reminds me of Alice among the flowers.
Your border is delightful – so colourful and full. I think I may have spotted a white crab spider yesterday evening, they are very, very small. And I also got surprised by a hummingbird hawkmoth as it landed on a flower right next to me, now they are quite large! Unfortunately it flew off so I had no chance to take a photo. The garden is certainly a hive of activity!
Full is the word. And I’m aiming for more! Oh dear!
I’m a bit like that. Replanted a couple of beds with perennials in the hope I don’t have to keep doing this. I have left plenty of room between plants for them to spread, but I hate seeing bare earth and the neighbour’s cat just thinks I have created another toilet for it!!
Hmph. Cats! I had a notion of putting pots on the bare bits, but have somehow forgotten to put this into practice.
Mine is full of sticks! Not very attractive, but hopefully one will poke his eye out. No that wasn’t a very charitable thought, but her cats do seem to like lying in my garden! Probably to get away from their annoying dogs.
My other thought which I partly did put into action, was to fill spaces with annual herbs – various basil varieties, which will eventually all get eaten (by us as opposed to s and s).
Love your colorful garden Tish 🙂
Thank you, Arlene.
Thank you for putting a name to this spider!
Happy to oblige, Ali 🙂
Such a colourful and blooming border, beautiful. I’m amazed that there is a spider out there that doesn’t weave a web
Fascinating isn’t it 🙂
Sure is
Nod to Laura. Looks like a Tenax and a comparison with some of my photos seems to concur.
Nice shot. The thin banding is light so I’m going to stick my neck out and say Male.
🙂
The garden looks wonderful, Tish. Most of us like to eat in attractive surroundings. The little spider is no exception. 😉
Of course, Ann! Should pay tribute to its sense of aesthetics over and above desire for lunch 🙂
😀
Some brilliant shots, Ark.
Crab spider: how aptly named! and how did you manage to spot such a little creature? I’m glad you did, and that you shared it with us!
I’d not grown zinnias in the garden until this year. I put them in a pot on some steps and then they grew so tall, little spider was almost under my nose 🙂
That wee spider certainly is ambitious. 😀
Isn’t it just 🙂