Autumn’s Silken Wonders: Spider Webs of the Season
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Cool, misty mornings make spider webs shimmer across our gardens — nature’s lacework glistening in the fall light. Autumn is peak season for many spiders, especially orb weavers, whose circular webs appear overnight between branches and shrubs.

By this time of year, adult spiders have reached full size and are busy catching the last of the season’s insects. Female spiders spin and secure their egg sacs in sheltered spots before the first frost, ensuring next spring’s hatchlings will continue the cycle.

Beyond their beauty, spider webs remind us of the balance in nature. Each web helps control mosquitoes, flies, and other pests, making spiders quiet allies in keeping our gardens healthy.
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So the next time you spot a web sparkling with dew, take a moment to admire the craftsmanship — a fleeting, silken sign of autumn’s arrival.

The side garden at the Crofton Community Library received additional TLC this morning from The Library Crew! Members Laura Austin, Littany Hollerbach, Nancy Percivall, and Yuki Adams removed volunteer oak and juniper trees and tidied up the space, giving the holly trees room to shine. Many thanks to the crew for their continued care and dedication!

Butterflies Take Flight at the Crofton Halloween Parade

​Crofton Village Garden Club members fluttered down the parade route today dressed as colorful butterflies, spreading awareness about the importance of pollinators in our environment. 

Marching in the parade were CVGC President Margo Antonelli, along with Laura Austin, Trish Lilek-Demers, Mary Ann Cannone, Littany Hollerbach, Jessica Kruse, Nancy Percivall, Sandy Robertson, Diane Smith, and Angela Wetzel.

Several of the club’s gardens are part of the Anne Arundel County Pollinator Pathway, where native plants provide vital habitat for butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects. Adding a touch of fun to the parade, member Nancy Percivall’s husband, George, joined in as the butterfly catcher.

The club’s participation highlighted how small community efforts, like pollinator-friendly gardens, play a big role in supporting biodiversity and the health of local ecosystems.

SUSTAINABLE GARDENING: Embrace Fallen Leaves and Build Healthy Soil

October is a month to slow down and work with nature’s natural cycles in your sustainable landscape. As trees shed their leaves, resist the urge to rake everything away. Instead, allow fallen leaves to remain in garden beds or shred and mulch them into the soil.

Leaves act as a natural mulch layer, helping conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and slowly break down to enrich the soil with organic matter. This process improves soil structure and supports beneficial microorganisms that keep your plants healthy.

Moreover, fallen leaves provide crucial shelter for overwintering pollinators, beneficial insects, and other wildlife. Many native bees and butterflies spend the winter in leaf litter or under shrub cover, so maintaining this natural habitat supports local biodiversity.
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If you choose to mulch leaves, spread a thin layer to avoid smothering plants and ensure airflow. Using leaf mulch this way contributes to a thriving, sustainable garden that nurtures both plants and pollinators.

If you’re near the Crofton Library, take a moment to admire the freshly weeded and pruned side garden! The TLC team spent the morning sprucing it up, and it’s looking great.

A big thank-you to Nancy Percivall, Yuki Adams, Angela Wetzel, Laura Austin, and Littany Hollerbach for their time and hard work!