‘A Little Maryland Garden 157 
their colour seems most vivid, and they glow 
like jewels in the subdued surroundings. 
The black and yellow spiders are weaving 
their August webs with great activity 
between the tall stems. When a spider sees 
danger approaching in the shape of garden 
scissors, he runs about in vain endeavour 
to avert coming disaster. Down come the 
tall props of his home, and he runs to cover, 
ready to spin more cables as soon as he is 
left in peace. 
While the spiders are tying up the lily 
stalks, the snails have fallen upon the foliage 
of the day-lily. It is a curious fact, and one 
I have never seen mentioned in any garden 
book, that the snail sets to work in earnest 
to eat the lily leaves only after the lily 
has gone out of bloom; as if he were loth 
to mar the fine effect of the broad green 
leaves under the snowy flowers. But as 
soon as their day of beauty is over, he 
loses no time, and as I cut away the tall 
stems that have cast their blossoms, I see 
the holes beginning to appear. 
