It is good to see you writing articles - almost like a family reunion on this site.
Good article, and with some interesting photos to go with it.
I always encourage people to look at more than just the flowers, and have a collection of photos showing the beauty of the winter garden, especially the old seed heads that can be covered with snow and ice. This also provides a refuge for a lot of beneficial critters for the following year. Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) is one of my favorite bark trees, with its multi-colored peeling bark, huge leaves, and fuzzy seed heads with flying seeds. Although I do not recommend planting it close to a house, as it is also a weak wood.
Spiders are very good floaters, and are typically one of the first critters to colonize a site that has been wiped out by volcanoes or other disasters. Their silken parachutes seem to be able to catch almost any breeze, and off they go. During the summer, I can see myriads of their streamers as they let out their silk in the wind - it is quite fun to watch. They will also let out their silk until it hits something else, and then walk on over to the other side, which is one of the ways orb weavers work. I am not a spider expert, though, so maybe someone else can add a bit more.
I also have a flame thrower, and although it can be quite fun to torch those weeds to a crisp, I have read the proper way to use them is to just wilt the leaves. That way, especially on a hot and sunny day, the ruptured cells continue to leak water, and the roots dry up trying to pump water to the almost fried leaves.
