Big spiders

 As you may have realised, late summer and early autumn is the season when most spiders are at their biggest.  The majority of species die in the cold of winter, leaving their eggs to overwinter in a cocoon and start over as tiny spiderlings again in the spring.  

This is not a particularly large garden spider (Araneus diadematus) but she was happy to pose for me  eventually ..  ..  .. 

..  ..  ..  though at first she was a bit shy and curled her legs in, to look smaller.

She is quite pretty with a white cross on the dark 'folium', the oakleaf-shaped pattern on her back,  and black rings or 'annulations' on her long legs. 

BTW the dragonfly I featured on my 12th September post has been identified by helpful Louise Bailey as a male Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum)