Two days ago a praying mantis arrived at the outside sink and spent all day resting on the edge, then gradually and oh so slowly, climbed up the wall and along towards the laundry area. Because everything was done in slow motion I came in and googled praying mantises - or should that be manti - and apparently they only live 10 to 12 months with the males dying first as they get eaten by the female after - or even during - the mating process. She bites off his head! Then when the female has laid her eggs in the autumn she will die during the winter months. So the chances are that this is a female and as I said 'on her last legs' as the weather is getting colder and soon her time will be up.
Today she spent the early part of the morning on the front of the washing machine cover but moved to the tumble drier cover when I put the washing in. Late this afternoon she'd gone but John said she is down in the courtyard on the outside of a large geranium tub. She's still moving but very slowly. How Pip and Monty haven't seen her I don't know, Pip would probably be frightened and bark at her while Monty would have a good sniff then go off and lie back down in the sun.
Pruning time in the front garden today, a huge pile overflowing the wheelbarrow of roses, geraniums, chrysanthemum prunings. Just about to tie up a wayward plant when I saw this huge spider sitting in it's web strung from rosebush to sage bush. No pruning near this! I'm sure it's got teeth!
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