My wife found this large arachnoid in a large web out back this evening. Hard to gage size in these phtos, but it's about the size of a U.S. quarter dollar coin. I have no idea what kind of spider it is, but we figured, it's eating bugs, so it is welcome to stay!
Can't tell for sure but ..... Dolomedes Albineus or Running Crab Spiders (Philodromidae) » Philodromus You might to check these out and see what looks closest to yours.
ID of arachnoid I looked the suggested spider names up, but the photographs don't look the same. I reckon we still don't know what kind of spider it is. I'll see if I can find an entomologist to look at it.
WtxDaddy, look at the website I posted in the http://www.gardenstew.com/viewtopic.php?p=69421#69421 forum, it just might have the spider you are trying to ID.
He looks like something out of Never Ending Story te he he. Try http://www.whatsthatbug.com Seems like they always know!
araneus diadematus I checked the site & did a Google search. Due to what I found, I think I have an Araneus Diadematus