Spider

This spider held onto a big meal.  I'm not sure what he caught, but he wasn't letting go.

 

Along came a spider

This spider looks like it could scare Miss Muffet away.

 

Orbweaver

This spider reminded me of a Navajo rug pattern.   I think she's a spotted orbweaver (here)

Shelob

A spider like this must have given J.R.R. Tolkien inspiration for his monstrous spider, Shelob,  in The Hobbit.  And that of course gave inspiration to J.K. Rowlings for Aragog in Harry Potter.
  I didn't try to tempt her out.

Yellow Garden Spider

This rather large beauty has been sitting in the garden for a few days now.  He's a Yellow Garden Spider, Argiope aurantia.  (see here)

Here he is from the back.  

Fall is definitely spider time here in Raleigh.

Another orbweaver

I couldn't find the spider this time, she must have been hiding.  But her web was glittering in the sun.  Makes me believe in Charlotte's Web.

Marbled Orbweaver

This is the best picture I could come up with with for this charming spider.  He was brilliant green on his abdomen and orange bodied with white and black striped legs.  He's a marbled orbweaver, handing in his web in Durant Nature Park.  See more info here

Spiny orb weaver

These guys have been building webs every night across our walkway.  Every morning I either see the web and duck, or get a facefull of web.  The spiders themselves look really creepy.  They scuttle around like a crab, and they have these spines on their big backs.  They're spiny orbweaver spiders...see here.  Supposedly they're related to Charlotte of E.B.White fame.

(by the way, did you know that Charlotte's Web is a type of medicinal cannabis plant?  The things you learn from Wikipedia...)