HOME GROWN 275

I was out by my garden the other day and I saw a huge spider. It was black with yellow markings on its back. The body was at least an inch in length. It had built a big horizontal web and had some zigzag webbing in a couple of spots. Is it dangerous? My crazy aunt told me that it was a poisonous banana spider and to kill it.

Yes, we have no banana spiders. Auntie struck out on this one. We don't grow bananas but the spider does have yellow on its back. I don't know why they aren't called lemon spiders or school bus spiders. The harmless spider before you is called a Black and Yellow Argiope. It belongs to a large family of spiders called Orb Weavers. We see them mainly in the late summer and fall, building large webs. The spider is usually hanging head down in the center. The zigzag bands are made when the web was constructed is an easy way to identity one of the Argiopes. The younger spiders seem to include more zigzags than older spiders. Your spider is doing what all spiders do, hunting for insects. They are not aggressive or even interested in people and pets. Their bites are not poisonous and nobody ever gets bitten. Enjoy them for what they, mighty hunters. Allow them to bring some spider "yin" to the insect "yang" of the universe. And keep your crazy aunt and weapons of spider destruction away from the garden.

I planted some little begonias this spring and many of them are really beautiful. Could I dig up some and put them in the house for houseplants? A person at work told me that since they are annuals they would die if I bring them in.

Dig away. These fibrous rooted begonias can make charming houseguests. Place them in individual pots or several in a larger container. Buy some indoor plant soil-less potting mixture when potting them up. Yes, they are annuals. That's because Michigan weather makes them annuals. If your house doesn't go below freezing inside, they will be perennially grateful. Put them near a window where they can receive some sunlight. During the winter, the lack of sunlight might make them grow tall and spindly. When we get to the end of February or March, pinch them back to the lowest set of leaves on that stem. The light is increasing and they will form new, denser branching. Your guests can return to the garden after all danger of frost has passed. This is usually towards the end of May. They will bloom in the house as long as they receive enough light. Treat them like a houseplant by watering to keep them moist and a bit of fertilizer periodically.

This is the first year that I grew ostrich ferns in my yard. I put them in a semi-shaded area and they grew fantastically until September. The fronds began to get brown and by the end of September, they looked dead. What went wrong?

It's nothing more than the Big Fall Close Out for Ostrich Ferns. Ostrich ferns shut down a bit earlier than other ferns. They are perfectly healthy. This is just what they do. Continue watering them if the soil is dry. Leave the dead fronds on the soil for winter mulch. They will be back in all their radiant glory next spring. This charming native plant has few insect or disease problems. They multiply rapidly under good conditions, so make sure they have room to run.

Gretchen Voyle, MSU Extension-Livingston County Horticulture
Agent 517/546-3950

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