Our garden dweller - a miraculous recovery . .

Recently we have been honored with the presence of an interesting garden dweller.

Close to my bedroom window the dweller constructed his beautiful abode, and with interest we watched and observed as he went about his daily chores.

Being  a nocturnal creature, he did not display much activity during the day. We became concerned as there were active bird life around, and wondered whether he would become a titbit on an avian menu . . .

Yet, the very image of the second link proved that it was highly unlikely, as his web consisted of several layers of silk that caused him almost to be invisibly encased in safety.

Then on Wednesday and all through the night we had gale force winds, bringing winter to our region. It was severe and looking through the window at the dweller, I really feared that his humble abode will not withstand this onslaught. For hours, no, more than a day and a night, he swung to and fro, clinging to a few strands of what once was his proud home,  yet remaining calm amidst the tatters and remnants of his web.

That night the wind died down. By morning light it was evident that he lost no time in doing major repairs and new construction to a devastated web. We saw him positioned in a newly constructed silky web that he must have been busy on the whole night.

I stand in awe at the power of nature, the instincts embedded in all of creation and the will to create orderliness out of chaos.

I am still (scared) wary of spiders!