I, an inveterate spider-hater, have adopted a spider.
Charlotte came along with a rescued rose bush, a hitchhiker.
She had carved out a home in the rotted-out core of the main branch.
When i scavenged the discarded plant I noticed that the main branch was covered with a dense web, and on bringing it home I removed the web.
But 5 days later it was back, and i knew she was in there. My first thought was to cut the rotten branch off and throw it away along with the spider, but a gardener advised against it. “They kill mosquitoes.”
This never swayed me before, but Charlotte, she hid in her burrowed out branch most of the time. She was totally small and innocuous when she emerged—1/8–¼ inch length, dark brown to black, totally innocuous.
I accepted her. Now I worry about her web after a rainstorm. I say hello to her from time to time. I can’t believe it. I adopted a spider.