Dahlia Land

The National Capital Dahlia Society's Mid-Atlantic Trial Garden is one of my favorite destinations in late summer.  It's an easy drive from my home and the perfect destination on a cloudy day.  Of course by the time I got there the sun was rather strong, but the flowers weren't in peak condition anyway due to several rainstorms, so I investigated the garden a little more closely.  There was a miniature world among those layers of colorful petals.  I was most taken with the jumping spiders.  They must appreciate the protection of the floppy flowers.  I've added an extra of a fly wedged in a petal crevice.  If you look closely, you can see the eyes of its predator, to the right.  A pretty large dinner for such a tiny spider.