I often come across several little critters in the garden. I’m going to show you some of these as I get a little excited when I see them.

The first one is what we call a jumping ant. These little dudes really do hurt when they bite you if you disturb their nests. Their nests are in the ground and can be easier to see than the nests of smaller ant species, but not always. Be careful, as they usually come for you in numbers and you don’t want the pain of a bite-stick to pathways!

The next three photos are of ladybird larvae. These little guys are awesome at eating aphids so should be encouraged in the garden.

I saw these three bees in the one rose flower. Normally I only see one bee at a time in, so I quite enjoyed watching them.

Spiders are a common feature in gardens too. Over here in Australia, we get some rather big ones, as well as some poisonous ones. Learn what to look for with the poisonous spiders and remember that all spiders are more scared of you looming over them than you are of them! I like spiders, they are so varied in looks and size.

The final critter for the day is Cuddles the cat-furry, cute as a button, loves a cuddle in winter and the sun on her belly! She is also partial to a lot of flirting and large amounts of mischief. She is out and about as often as possible. While very cute, she has been known to get a little spicy and let you know when she’s not happy!