Outside my kitchen window I have a garden that is still a work in progress. It is on a fairly steep slope so Gilly has been putting in rock walls when he can to make different planting areas. Earlier, I decided to put in another plant. It takes a bit of balance and coordination to work in this garden and while I was working my way to where I was going to dig, I stopped to pull a couple of weeds. Bent over and balancing precariously, I just happened to look over the upper rock wall. There, laid in perfect sun-bathing formation, was a snake about 12 inches from my face!! I think my body responded before my mind did. I was jumping backwards as I realized where I was and started to fight to keep my balance. I managed to stop my jump and turn around but then had to side-step the very large rock (small boulder) that is waiting for a home in a wall. Then, I had to slow down that momentum because I was now on the steepest part of the incline and heading for the house. Just as I thought I was safe I had to make sure not to trip over the large stepping stones next to the house. All while wearing flip-flops!! I'm sure this would have been very funny to see if someone had been watching but I am very thankful to have not broken a limb in the process! LOL

When I was finally safe, I had to stop and wonder if I really saw a snake at all. We've seen maybe 5 snakes in the 3 1/2 years that we've lived here and the glimpse that I got was very brief. Like maybe half of a second! Well, I must have scared that snake as much as I scared myself because it was gone! So I stood around for awhile, waiting for the adrenaline rush to subside, and then I saw it again. I'm glad I didn't almost kill myself for a figment of my imagination!

Now that I KNOW I have a resident snakey, I'm very excited. I take it as a sign that nurturing we've done around here is paying off. We know for a fact that the people who lived here before us used DDT around the farm. We feel that is why there is very little to no reptile and amphibian wildlife around here.

I haven't identified the snake yet but we are very fortunate to live in an area of the country with only a few venomous snakes and he didn't fit those descriptions. I think he is a garter snake. He is golden brown with a red tongue. The kids and I saw him sun bathing again but he is really shy and we haven't been able to tell if there are any other markings. Guess I'll get Gilly to plant that plant for me! LOL I love having the snake here! I just don't care for being surprised by it! LOL And I sure hope it is a slug eating snake because I know there are plenty of slugs in that garden!!

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), May 08, 2002

Answers

Snakes make me run into trees :>)

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), May 08, 2002.

ooooohhh! Snakes yucky!!!!! I don't harm them, we don't have enough predators around for the multitude of bugs and rodentia but ....eeee... eeeccchh...blech {shiver and twitch}!

I know it is silly, we don't have ANY type of poisonus snakes here, just plain old garters but oooh icky! I usually end up making some sort of noise, no matter how hard I try. Then the children come to save me from the beast! DD had to gaurd me the day there were half a dozen where I had to get some weeding done and they kept coming back (good sunning spot?). She stomped her feet and told them to "leave my Mom alone you!"

-- Novina in ND (homespun@stellarnet.com), May 09, 2002.

I love snakes. Have had them as pets. Totally misunderstood creatures. Seems everyone I know hates 'em. I love their soft smooth skin and the way they move is incredible. I miss my king snake. Had him for 8 yrs. I'm glad y'all know better than to kill them. :)

-- Cindy in IL (Ilovecajun@aol.com), May 09, 2002.

What you describe doesn't sound like a garter snake to me. The ones I've seen are black with a couple of yellow stripes, white or cream colored belly---usually not aggressive. If you have snakes around, not a bad idea to get a good ID on them.

-- john (natlivent@pcpros.net), May 10, 2002.

dont be frightened of anything. they are totaly harmless (in a way!) but most people say that THEY are the ones who are actually scared. ok fine, maybe your not that scared which makes things better. but to tell you the truth, i love snakes. and i do hope that it is a slug eating snake!

-- sania shapi (saniashapi@yahool.com), November 16, 2004.