Met a new friend tonight.

I least it's a safe one. I am sure that was his secret hide away.

For me, that would be one too many in 10 years!

He seems friendly enough. Lol!

Nice! I saw the first one in my yard last year....made me happy.

I had to have a rock garden with some huge rocks..I would NOT listen to reason nothing would do but that I have a huge rock garden with equally huge rocks, plants, shrubs, ect....this took 7 months to do than another part of a season for the plants to turn my back yard into my dream garden....filled with dappled light...I could sit and listen to the birds...no neighbors to watch me if I decide to scratch my nose, no one to break the peaceful tranquility of my alone time...no one except the SNAKES....no one told me about rocks and snakes. Do I sit out in my lovely rock garden...NO...matter of fact I went to the used army resale store and bought a pair of boots that lace up to my knees just to do clean up work in the garden....one snake would not bother me too much, but as I sat early one morning last summer having my coffee, heavy cream and admiring the roses in full bloom ...I spotted it..than another...and another...total of 7 sunning themselves on my rocks as if it was their garden of Eden. All of my dreams of having my own make believe come to life garden from a fairy tale came to a hisssss' ing stop with the intrusion of those snakes and Frogged they looked very much like yours.

I had one in my garden that returned year after year, at least I pretended like it was the same one. Then for several years - no snake(s). Very early this spring I saw a garter snake but since then it's been elusive.

I would love to have such a friend in my yard!

I think if you check at a well stocked garden center you can buy snake repellant. I had guy friends when growing up that caught snakes and played with the garden ones. I learned quickly to not act afraid, they are harmless. As an adult I prefer to see them before they startle me.

I am sorry that all your work ended with snakes spoiling your pleasure. Look for the repellant, worth a try. Don 't know if you realize they have many babies at a time. Try to move them out soon.

It's easier to master the fear of snakes than to repel them.

Not really worried about this guy or gal, around here we don't have any "dangerous" snakes it looks like a common garter. Not sure how I would feel about them if I had as many as mamapinky0 though. He will likely move on now that I have taken off the plastic covering the cold frame. I was a little surprised because I have not found any before in my yard, and it is longer than ones I have seen. I do hope it will not try to make meals out of any of my frogs or toads, he would definitely get evicted then.

He's lovely. :) I used to love the garter snakes when I grew up in North Van. I haven't seen any in years. I miss them. :(

I have several that visit here. They enjoy hanging out in the Ninebark shrubs, clinging to or dangling on the branches.

Love, love, love garter snake faces. They are so sweet looking. Some snakes bother me, but not this one. Friendly!

:)

About how long is he? I always think of garter snakes as really small, but based on the pots around him, he looks like he could be a couple of feet?

Garter snakes don't bother me. Even big black gopher snakes have no effect on me, but rattlesnakes do send me running. We have had them a couple of times. One was even in the garage.

Brushworks, I'll be keeping a close watch on my Ninebarks.

aok, the size of the common garter snake is dependent upon its environment. I was totally taken aback when I saw my first garter snake in the deep south, yikes!

I think snakes are cool, I've seen a couple around here. Me, I'm creeped out by spiders. Teeny tiny baby spiders, are okay. One or two larger spiders, outside, are tolerable. But yeah it would disturb me to see seven big ol' spiders sitting near me, so I sympathize with Mamapinky, even though I'd personally find that coolest rock garden ever :-)

Well a not so welcome not friend was just on my neighbors back patio. Near the back door and the dog door. Thank goodness she was able to get the dogs inside. A 3 ft long Copperhead! She had one bite one of dogs on the face last year. We had to rush her to the vet. It was a nasty bite and her whole head swole up. The dogs are Labs so they usually survive but my tiny dog would not. There have been more sightings around of those and water moccasins since the flood. And today it's raining and the back yard looks like a pond. So you can rest assured that I will not be going out.

I need to find the picture a neighbor posted on our nextdoor. They came home to find a huge snake totally wrapped around their door handle!

Hi Raven,

Would someone trying to open that door be called ...

... a "door handler" ...

... or a "snake handler"?

(Maybe ... both).

Oh, I know!

Most would invite a neighbour (or spouse ... or offspring) to take care of the necessary.

ole joyfuelled ... who doesn't worry about the harmless snakes that show up around here, occasionally