Wildlife Sighting Of The Week

It made staying in the house and vacuuming a very attractive option:
 photo yikes5670_zpsa26a4640.jpg
The first thing you look for here when you see a snake is a rattle;  no rattle.  I think it was a gopher snake.  In no hurry at all, it slid slowly under the Cornflower by the front door.  What was I so afraid of?  The snake was less than five feet (150 cm) long.
 photo yikes5627_zps161d4cc2.jpg
It was last seen sashaying up into the neighbor's bougainvillea.  I hope you understand why I didn't make a strong effort for better photos. 
 photo yikes5672_zps410b54e2.jpg
Lots of hiding place under the Hydrangea, unfortunately:
 photo yikes5651_zps51c198b3.jpg 
Flowers always calm me down. 
 photo yikes5625_zps76d39984.jpg

 photo yikes5622_zps0f474215.jpg  
No hidey space here:
 photo yikes5616_zpsf9260432.jpg
This seedling rose is three inches tall.  I moved it to the same area as the first seedling rose that bloomed, and watered it well.  Obviously another offspring of 'Fourth Of July'. 
 photo yikes5614_zpsb06c7549.jpg
There now.  I've almost forgotten about the snake.  The house is all vacuumed, too.    
  

Comments

  1. The only snakes in my yard are garter snakes. I have to provide cover for them so the cat will not kill them. I am very grateful not to have poisonous snakes here. I lived on top of a ridge between canyons in California and had rattlers migrating through my garden, I had several close encounters. But I had to collect snakes in college so am not afraid of non-poisonous ones, I am a biologist. How wonderful to have a seedling Fourth of July rose! That's one flower I haven't learned to grow from seed, nor have I ever seen one volunteer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Collecting snakes--you are far braver than I!!! No wonder I chose computer science.

      It's quite a surprise to see seedling roses, but we forget that is how they all start out.

      Delete
  2. I hate snakes, I have had quite a few in my garden over the years. My son and I managed to catch a very large diamond python which we re-located to the bushland in my street, hope it stays there.
    Your flowers are beautiful, glorious colours in the daylilies.
    xoxoxo ♡

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think they are fine, just somewhere other than here! Hope your python stays far away. Far, far away...

      Delete
  3. I'm fine with snakes of all sizes and kinds...but not into the diamondbacks...always need to watch in our places where we walk! But then, we also see such beauty.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Our rainfall was so low this winter I think they are moving to gardens looking for food. I do hope the rattlers don't appear as well.

      Delete
  4. Yikes! O.K. I don't envy your climate today! Snakes are beautiful but it's the surprise factor that makes me scream like a little girl. In western Washington, we only have little garter snakes and in my urban garden, not even those. I can't imagine the unwelcome surprise of reaching down to pull weeds and pulling a snake instead!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep, I screamed like a little girl when I saw it. Don't tell anyone, okay?

      Delete
  5. A snake, harmless or not, would hustle me into the house too. It's a good thing your pups didn't get hold of it!

    ReplyDelete
  6. That snake.........glad we never see them here. I should run for my life, haha.

    ReplyDelete
  7. YOWZA! Less than 5 feet? Well, that's a relief. Does it bite?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They do, but strictly for defense. Kept my distance and it completely ignored me.

      Delete
  8. Only little snakes round these city environs, and none at all in my garden. Now raccoons, that's a different story: they feel as dangerous as rattlers to me sometimes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't like raccoons either. My lack of trees helps there.

      Delete
  9. Several of our local non-venomous snakes will rattle their tails against foliage to mimic a rattlesnake. Knowing this still makes me shudder.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't know snakes do that, interesting! Though I try not to think about snakes at all. One species of gopher snake will flare out it's neck to imitate the head of a rattler, but I do not think it was the species in the yard.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Always interested in your thoughts.

Any comments containing a link to a commercial site with the intent to promote that site will be deleted. Thank you for your understanding on this matter.