The Dreaded Latrodectus mactans!

Every year at this time I let my plants overgrow in the garden. It helps to keep them from burning in the 100 + degree weather. The problem is the black widow spiders love to hide in my overgrown garden. I have been bit twice by black widows. The first time was not so bad...heart raced a little, clammy sweats, then muscle spasm for a day in one thigh. The next time I was bit was horrible. My whole body felt like a spasm. My mother-in-law said the second bite was worse because I was bit in the tender skin of my under arm. The bite went deeper. I seem to get bit when I decide to clean out my garden at the beginning of fall. Joey took this photo. I hope it will remind me to be cautious.

This spider (above) nested on the fence right above the beautiful cherry tomato plant my sister gave me (below).

Although not quite ripe, this is the healthiest plant in my garden (above). Does the spider know that?

Unfortunately my Topsy Turvy plant is not doing as well as it was. When the weather turned real hot I had to water frequently, the water dripped down onto the plant and gave it blight. I still am getting plenty of cherry tomatoes. But, the blight may eventually take over the whole plant.

My peppers are ready to pick. I am going to make salsa. My step family call it "chili".

My eggplant went into hibernation during the heat wave. Now it has cooled down and I am producing eggplant again. The grasshoppers are eating it, though. I think I will still get a few.

This is the basil (above) I used for the pasta salad (below). I also used yellow squash and parsley from the garden. I couldn't use my own tomatos because we ate all the ripe ones last week. I won't have new ripe toms until next weekend. Same with my zuchini and yellow squash. That is the downfall of container gardening. I never get a bumper crop, just enough to enjoy.

Yum!