Garden Spiders are Back

It's late summer, so the late season garden spiders are making their appearance.  Wonder if that makes them a harbinger, although I only ever hear of harbingers of spring?

[image credit Gary, plus a spider who refused to give his name]

When I was a kid we'd catch bugs and toss them into the webs of these guys.  The spider would instantly pounce, bite the victim, and roll it up in a bundle of silk in what seemed to be only the blink of an eye.

Seems pretty gruesome to think about now, but that what kids did then (and still do).  Part of that whole "nature red in tooth and claw" thingy.