Friday 5 June 2009

Eeeek.....something's killing my bees.

Oh dear....I don't like the look of this......
Some creature is hunting amongst the Valerian blooms....I have an idea what it might be....and it is going to be very hard to find.....

She scurried away......this is the only photograph I managed to get of her.....superb camouflage........Thomisdae, the crab spider. Please enlarge to view her........if you dare!!! Bees beware.......


On a lighter note two doves are regular visitors to the garden. They are very much a pair and are always together.......so sweet......
I thought I would make this very much a white post and show you a dahlia bloom that has just opened....and there are lots more to come. I have planted many this year of varying colours, and look forward to showing you.....
Have a great weekend....hope you will drop by for Safari Sunday.......



24 comments:

ShySongbird said...

Oh my goodness Cheryl, only last night on Springwatch they were talking about the Crab Spider killing bees, they did say also that it seems to be a better year for bees so far, I thought of you while watching.

The Doves are beautiful, are they from someone's collection?

Lovely photos again, have a great weekend.

Cheryl said...

Hi Jan....I saw that on springwatch to and couldn't believe, that very day, I took the photographs. I just hope that I have not got too many of them in the garden.....but that is what wildlife gardening is all about, letting nature do its own thing.....

The lady next door keeps doves....she only has the two....I expect they may breed this year. Very gentle creatures.....
Have a lovely weekend.....

The Crone at Wits End said...

What a sneaky little spider! Poor bees.

The doves are gorgeous.

Betty Jo said...

Ohhhhh I love your white post, except for the spider! The doves are so beautiful. Yes, I love raindrops on spider webs and looked for some but didn't find any today. Maybe next time! ♥

Lisa at Greenbow said...

How in the world did you see that crab spider?? It blends in with the flower so well. The bees don't stand a chance. All are beautiful whites.

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

I love all the white blooms. Even that naughty spider is white. The Doves are beautiful, and the Dahlia exquisite.

Wendy said...

What a horrid spider! I don't know how you saw it. Poor bees, I hope they can stay away from that spider.

Doves are sweet. I like gentle creatures. Your dahlia so pure looking. Have a wonderful weekend.

Rose said...

I did see the crab spider when I enlarged the photo! No wonder the bees don't notice her. I do hope she doesn't get many of your bees; is there anything you can do to chase her away?
What pretty doves! All we have here are the dull gray ones. Have a good weekend, Cheryl!

Cheryl said...

Hi Crone....indeed poor bees....nature can be cruel.....

Cheryl said...

Hi Betty Jo.....doves, I think, are always very calming, very peaceful....I love to watch them circle the garden, so pretty....

Cheryl said...

Well Lisa it was not easy....I suppose I have always used my eyes well, where nature is concerned and you know I have a great love of bugs.....BUT I must say I was sad to see the bees just hanging there......

Cheryl said...

Hi morningglories.....I love white, so thought it would make a nice theme....not too sure about that white spider....

Cheryl said...

Hi Wendy....The crab spider is a first for me.....they walk sideways just like a crab and I believe have four sets of eyes....the bees do not stand a chance.....

Have a fun weekend.....

Cheryl said...

Hi Rose....As much as I do not like her killing the bees, I do accept that this is nature.....it can be raw and cruel....she appears at the moment to be taking the little mining bees......I shall keep a close eye on the situation......

Have a lovely weekend

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

Sorry to hear about the spider... but hopefully it's good for something else in the garden? I love Valerian. I have a huge stand of it--taller than me now (well, not that that's hard!) and my cats love it, too.

Pat said...

Hey... you have white doves....I want white doves. Ours are gray and pinkish. The new header is packed full of color...love it.
I'll have to look up crab spider.

fiona said...

Hi Cheryl,

Just stopping by for a walk in your lovely garden after a hard week! Love the white dahlia (my favourite flower for cutting) .. I usually go for the really strong hot colours for Autumn, but this is so clean and crisp and prisine

Have a good weekend :-)

Leanne said...

amazing photo cheryl, you think of white as innonence but that is not an innocent spider, poor bees :-(

Leanne x

Cheryl said...

Hi Monica....I love valerian...the perfume is lovely....I have it all around the garden...where it seeds it stays....great plant....

Cheryl said...

HI Patsi......I love white doves ....always look so peaceful....

The crab spider is really interesting....I have been reading about it today, also watched a programme on it the other night.....

Cheryl said...

Hi Hedgewitch....welcome...
Dahlias are new to me. My father always grew them when I was a child.
I have a beautiful lavender one coming into bloom....also a very very deep red....I shall post them. They are beautiful for cutting.....

I do hope you and your little boy are doing well......

Cheryl said...

Hi Leanne.....it certainly isn't an innocent spider....I caught it hunting again today and managed to get some better photographs.....

Q said...

Dear Cheryl,
I did not know about the crab spiders! Bees beware indeed. My Masons are flying....I hope they nest again in the bee boxes.
I will look for the crab spiders. They do blend in well...I love spiders and bees and all the bugs really...Nature is always teaching me. I must learn to accept, not always easy for me.
Your white flowers are gorgeous. My favorite flowers are white.
The Doves are very pretty.
Thank you for time in the gardens.
I am smiling and relaxing.
Sherry

Pam said...

Scary spider!!!! Does it run down to the ground and eat the dead bee? Or does it fall into a web? Crazy timing to get that photo!!!!