In m "Daniel B. Martin" writes:

... a large black, yellow and white orb weaver spider ...

This was probably a Yellow Argiope, commonly found in gardens.
They are "good guys."

http://insects.tamu.edu/extension/youth/bug/bug163.html

I recently saw an enormous spider in my back yard (nearly shook hands with
it while I was clearing a vine) that was "large black, yellow and white"
but not the one Daniel has linked to.

Including the legs, it had to be at least 2x3 inches big, with what I
guess you'd call a classic spider body -- small head portion, rounded
body. It was primarily black with very vivid yellow stripes and white
accents.

It was clinging to the pipes that feed the utility lines to the meters on
the house, and didn't appear to have constructed a web there so I can't
describe its web.

I'm not wild about bugs but dang, it was pretty. Anybody have any idea
what it was?

Thanks

MAL


--