Nature questions

To you spider experts out there... In the photo to the right, is the spherical bit beneath the spider PART of the spider, or (what we suspect) an egg sac? I've also included a photo of the spider from above, if that helps.

I've never really minded spiders, even the big ones, though I'm still not crazy about the idea of them crawling on me or sharing my bedspace. They're such fascinating creatures, and there are so many different types at the cottage.



And here's a photo and a question for you botanists:



We found the berry plants above mixed in with regular blueberry plants in northern Ontario. There are always exactly three of the berries, larger than regular blueberries, on each stalk. You can see the shape of the leaf in the background. Anyone out there know what kind they are? And if they're edible/poisonous?

Thanks in advance for any information. :-)

Livejournal comments