Saturday, June 1, 2013

Black Snake


This handsome critter was stretched out in the rocks across the road from thhe garden yesterday.  

At first I thought it was a length of soaker hose, somehow gone astray, but a closer look revealed a good-sized black snake -- maybe five feet long --  with a chipmunk-sized bulge in the middle...

I know that not everyone is a fan of snakes like me so I'll close with some pretty flowers.  And tomorrow, there will be kitties. (Especially for the newly wed Susan Jane Urbanski who requested  demanded more kittehs in response to yesterday's post on Facebook.).

.Something about Facebook. Whenever I do a post with kitties, I get about twice the comments and traffic.

Snakes, however . . . not so popular.  In fact, a serious turn-off for lots of folks.  Fluffy wins over scales every time, it seems.
 
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15 comments:

Victoria said...

I like both snakes and cats. Well, I'm not fond of rattlesnakes, but as long as they stay out of my way I won't hurt them.

Ms. A said...

I'll take flowers and fluffy to snakes, any day. I know snakes serve a purpose, I just don't want them serving it around me.

Juliet said...

I'm fascinated by the snake, as we don't have any in New Zealand. Is it dangerous?

Novice Naturalist said...

Hi! Love snakes. I think what you have here is the very useful Eastern Indigo--is or was on endangered list, maybe. I rescued one like this last fall,from a tree downtown. Brought it home and put it out in the wild blackberry patch by the creek. Great snake photo--

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

I've mistaken a snake for a water hose too. Kind of scary to think I almost touched it. Can't believe you had time to get your camera. Good shot Vicki.
Sam

Vicki Lane said...

Juliet -- not poisonous and not dangerous to people. They eat rodents and eggs and baby birds (alas) and other snakes -- including our poisonous copperheads. I'm happy to have them around -- though I don't want then in our chicken house and will remove them when possible.

Brian Miller said...

ha. it does usually...killed a couple last week..but only because they were poisonous and around the house and having young boys that pay little attention to where they are going...

Barbara Rogers said...

I love the furry things, am disdainful of scaley ones, but enjoy my fish. Mmm. I eat em and raise tropical pretty ones, fish that is. I always make myself touch snakes when the opportunity comes (zoos, demos) but their dry scales still give me the willies.

Unknown said...

When I was a kid, I went to camp west of here. The girls took a different route back to the "camp" site than the boys. The next thing we hear are screams! They encountered a LARGE black snake on the way back to camp.

We come running. I say, "Oh. That's just a black snake. They're harmless." "Really?" "Yup!"

Oh the irony.

Snakes are misunderstood.

NCmountainwoman said...

Ah, but fluffy does so little for you and scales do so much. Fluffy might be a little cuter, but scales gets it done.

Kath said...

So, since I have poison ivy and am clearly not as bright as your handsome fellow, How does he avoid poison ivy blisters? I see him gliding through. I see you, handsome guy!

Glenda Beall said...

I posted a photo on my blog, www.profilesandpedigrees.blogspot.com last week of a mole king snake which I saw in my yard. I held my fear until I learned it wasn't poisonous, thank goodness. But I hope he will keep to his nocturnal habits and not frighten me again.

Pame Recetas said...

HI DEAR VICKI, IT'S BEEN QUITE A WHILE SINCE I LAST VISITED YOU. I LEFT THE PATAGONIA BLOG , I DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME AND I ONLY KEPT THE COOKING BLOG.

I JUST WANTED TO COME BY AND SAY HI, TELL YOU YOUR BLOG IS AS GREAT AS ALWAYS, I HAD A LOT OF FUN GOING THROUGH SOME OF YOUR LAST POSTS, AND I LOVED THE BLACK SNAKE, I HAVE SMALLER ONES HERE IN MY FARM, AND THEY ARE NOT AS BEAUTIFUL AS YOURS.

BIG HUGS

Frances said...

Oh Vicki, snakes both fascinate and frighten me. All the same, I'd love to see a photo of the chip monk in the snake part. (It would help me visualize a favorite phrase of my generation being like the rat in a python...not easily digested.)

xo

Brenda said...

I like the photos of the kitties and the snakes! I'm good as long as the kitties are inside and the snakes outside. That is a rather chipmunk sized bulge there isn't it...