- HubPages»
- Education and Science»
- Life Sciences»
- Entomology»
- Spiders & Arachnids
Spider in a Blemished Rose
A humorous poetic observation from my back yard.
This is a lightly humorous bit of poetry about nature's activity during a windy warm autumn afternoon. Specifically it is the meeting of two tiny creatures on a frost-ravished large Mirandy rosebud. And yes, the proof is in the pudding, er, the photos! Enjoy!
A happy green beetle upon the blemished Mirandy rose
And then...the spider came out from hiding!
An observation of nature described in a slightly nonsensical poem.
Hence this tale of a tiny spider, a small green beetle, and the unexpected viewing of their conference upon a Mirandy rosebud which had been previously damaged by freezing nighttime temperatures.
So, stand in the warm windy day with me, camera in hand. The very thorny Mirandy rosebush has one large blotchy bud swaying in gusty sunshine: Upon that blemished rose there is a green beetle similar to a ladybug in size and demeanor.
Shucks! I rush into the house to get new batteries --I had forgotten there were none in the camera.
Now we are back beside the rosebush with warming sun upon our shoulders, standing so as not to cast shadows upon that green beetle clinging securely to Mirandy. I have to grasp the thorny stem as wind is marauding my photography of that green bug on dark red. "Ouch!"
So the story progresses...
Spider in a Blemished Rose
There once was a spider that hid in a rose.
How long it sat there, I think no one knows.
It had climbed past sharp thorns to find a loose petal,
and had such a journey he'd almost lost mettle.
But spider was hungry and thought it might be
an appealing peripheral to snatch meals for free.
Then came a green bug with black spots galore,
and spider thought "Dinner!", and savored lots more.
Cold nights had tarnished that beautiful flower,
but spider was patient in his unbloomed bower.
That green bug crawled round, all over, down, up,
though spider just watched while waiting to sup.
But buggy kept walking with no thought in mind
of danger nor problem to suddenly find.
Spider peeked upward and buggy looked down:
I didn't hear greetings nor see any frown.
They stared for a moment. Bug stopped in its tracks,
while spider stayed frozen, attempting no whacks!
The moment was over -- who knows what occurred.
I guess the small spider, frustrated, demurred.
So casually, green bug tracked back up the rose...
then turned once again and followed his nose -
around for another quick tease at his foe...
took wing in brisk breeze...and decided to GO!
Poor wingless spider, still hungry and small,
lost out on his banquet. How sad after all!
What might you have done, of the following:
How do these minuscule creatures know...?
This spider was about 3/8" wide measuring the approximate width of its outstretched legs, a tiny arachnid in soft creamy color. Surely it must have recognized its conquest of the beetle to be an impossibility because of their size comparison. Perhaps it knew the beetle had a hard shell?
The spider did creep out several times to see where the beetle was, but when the bug crawled right past spider on the edge of that petal, the spider did not attempt to subdue its prey. Instinct, intelligence, or whatever else, that speaks of a natural activity that we know little about.
If I'd a mosquito or other small bug handy, I would have offered it to the spider. Would you?
For further interesing reading click these links.
- How To Send Your Garden Pests To Your Neighbors Yard
Did you know that if you include a row of marigolds in your vegetable garden that your taking a important step towards garden pest control as most garden insect pests can't stand marigolds. Another really great thing about using marigolds for garden. - 53 Macrophotography / Microphotography Images of Ins...
Macrophotography of Insects opens up the door to these
Comments
Very enjoyable hub with beautiful photos.
- Author
paperfacets, I was the lucky observer...it was a fun deal! Thanks for enjoying it also.
A wonderful idea for posting. Entertaining to see the bugs doing their everyday crawls and reading the poem that goes with.
- Author
sallybea, thank you for sharing your pleasure about this event of nature...it was a special and unexpected surprise for me too!
What a lovely read. I love anything to do with nature but you managed to paint a picture with words and images and I loved it. Nature sure is special, all you have to do is go out there with open eyes and holding a Macro lens and camera in your hand - all will be revealed. Just Stupendous!
- Author
Pamela-anne, than you for visiting. It was amazing to watch the 'interaction'...I was expecting the bug to be a meal. But then, the spider got my sympathy for having to go hungry. Aw, Nature!
I really enjoyed reading your poem - the pics u took were wonderful you captured the moment splendidly in both pics and words well done!
- Author
kohuether, I really lucked into an intriguing situation here. I do take closeups with my 'point and shoot' on macro setting. But I then have to crop the picture to focus on what is needed. I do enjoy my camera and really thrill whenever some 'special' picture happens. Glad you enjoyed the bug and spider. I did have quite a few more pictures - just missed the time when the bug flew away. Go ahead with your macro...you'll love it!
This was so interesting! The photographs are quite beautiful, too. Did you do it with macro photography? I have been thinking about getting into it.
- Author
Dear James A Watkins, you are so kind, expressive. Thank you for letting me know your enjoyment of the scene: It was an unexpected delight for me, just a chance meeting! But I dreaded to have the bug 'get caught', which it didn't. But then spider went hungry...oh dear!
I love this fabulous Hub! This might be the very first time I have hit all five of the "good" buttons in addition to the "Thumbs Up." Your poem is beautifully crafted and your photographs exquisite. I could not have enjoyed it more.
James
- Author
girishpuri, indeed Nature gives us amazing gifts and surprises. Glad you enjoyed the scene.
amazing, cute and very creative, Nature is so rich, Voted awesome
- Author
vibesites, it was an anxious pleasure, because I thought for sure that bug was going to get eaten. But then I felt sorry for the hungry spider too.
Thanks for enjoying with me!
Very witty hub, with great pictures all around. You really showed a seemingly humorous side of Mother Nature though your hub. Voted up and beautiful.
- Author
shiningirisheyes, I did 'luck out' on this meeting of bugs. It was breathtaking to watch them not knowing what was going to happen....and, it was a lovely cool day for Thanksgiving here - had all my girls here for the day, and all were well.
teaches12345, I was glad the bug got away too, though regretful the spider was still hungry.
Interestingly, I went out a day later to look at another small rose that had bloomed - looked at THE rosebud and the spider was still in its hiding petal. Got a couple more pictures, but still no more bugs to feed it. Went out again two days later and only a few scraggly middle petals were left.
Oh I love this story. I am glad the bug got away. I would have just watched for awhile, but glad you took the pictures to share. So well done and very colorful.
This was quite a wonderful opportunity you took and grasped. You show a true understanding and appreciation for Mother Nature. I would like to think the beetle and the spider had a brief conversation where they both agreed to share the area for a moment and then go on their own ways.
Thank you for taking the time not only to recognize a wonderful interaction with these two little bugs, but to also have the presence of mind to capture the moment in photography as well as a wonderful hub.
Happy Thanksgiving
- Author
Mhatter 9, you are right. I just saw the bug first - it was so pretty on the red rose. Then came that spider...I was spellbound!
Deerwhisperer, I can just see you out on that driveway!! I think we are kin in the camera/heart genes. :-)
christopheranaton, I do want more explanation of your green-bug-not-tasty information. That would explain my nerve-racking non-interfering wait to see if somebody got to eat, and didn't! And I don't think spider got to eat...I went back out to check if it was still there and after about 30 minutes...it was gone.
kashmir 56, I just couldn't resist that red and green combination - and then along came spider! That was really exciting.
always exploring, I took a lot of pictures to make sure there were some good ones...and I'm glad I lucked into the event. And glad it turned out like it did, except sorry the spider was still hungry.
aviannovice, I did have a great stroke of luck in watching this...thought it would just be a pretty green bug on a poor red rosebud. It was warm, windy, and exciting too.
Thanks to all of you wonderful people for reading and commenting on the happening!
This was so wonderful. Nature is such an interesting thing, for we can learn so much with all the things that surround us.
I dearly loved this. You are so clever, taking pictures and rhyming as you watch nature in action...Thank you..
Great poem and awesome photos, enjoyed them both !
Vote up and more !!! SHARING !
The colours of the bug would have indicated to the spider that the bug was not very tasty. That is why the little spider passed on that meal.
Thanks for the truly brilliant pictures. I hope the spider found a good meal since.
Absolutely loved it! It was cute, funny, very creative, and I loved the pictures. And your rushing out, with camera in hand, only to find that it held no batteries is a scene that I can eaily envision because it has happened to me upon many occasions. I even once ran out in the snow to capture a photograph of a Bald Eagle. When I heard laughter coming from down the driveway I realized that I was clad only in my pajamas and was barefoot but I really didn't care.
This is amazing! Thank you for sharing a true once in a lifetime experience.
25