Thursday, July 16, 2009

I am SO mad!!!

I am so sick of snakes!! We have lived in this house 25 years and have always had snakes in spring. They are diamond back water snakes. According to the Internet, they are not poisonous, but are mean. This year we had 5 really long (3 feet!) snakes and several babies (may they all rest in peace!). I live knowing this, and I have learned not to freak out when I see a snake--it's part of gardening. However.....yesterday I did quite a bit of watering with my bubbler (they are a great way to water by the way). I went out to move it to another spot when something slithered in front of me. Darn..another snake I thought. I saw it slither again and noticed it did not look like the snakes we usually find--it was black. That is not a good sign. Cottonmouth water moccasins are black. I decide to not venture out the rest of the afternoon. When hubby got home, I told him my story. He took a stick and went through all the plants and as he drug the stick through ground cover--out came a very fast moving snake into the pond. And, yep-it was a moccasin!! Hubby tried and tried to force it out of the water. He later tried looking for it under rocks, under plants and again in the ground covers, but he could not find it. I am on vacation this week and look forward to my early mornings in the garden, but not today.
Not knowing that a moccasin could be hiding in here...
..or in here. Or anywhere! I can handle lots of critters visiting my yard, even little garter snakes that I just ignore, but not something dangerous like a cottonmouth. So, today I run errands. Tonight we are snake hunting!
Makes me so mad!!!

18 comments:

CiNdEe's GaRdEn said...

I totally can relate to that one! Geez I watch everytime I go outside for rattlesnakes. Its so hot here and the snakes come to the coolness of the yard. We live in the middle of dry fields so we are the only place around within 1/2 mile of any cool green grass. Its a wonder there are not more here. Just take your shovel when you go outside and try not to worry to much(-: Easier said then done I know! Good luck tonight on your snake hunt!

Meadowview Thymes said...

Cindee-I put the shovel right beside the door just in case. The neighbors are saying just what you said--it's the heat. Some neighbors are getting copperheads. Thanks for the wishes for tonight. Hubby says this snake hunt may take a while. The water snakes are much easier to spot. Ugh! :)

tina said...

That's pretty scary and can surely give the gardener a start. No question about it. Good luck snake hunting. I hope it's moved on by now though. And be safe!

Aunt Debbi/kurts mom said...

Cotton mouths are scary my parents have a problem with them sometimes. Be careful.

Meadowview Thymes said...

Tina and Debbi--they ARE scarey. I feel like a wimp not wanting to go out back today, but water snakes annoy me--the cottonmouths scare me big time! And, if we don't find it and kill it, I'll always think it might be out there somewhere hiding. Gosh I hate that snake!

JenningsJunk said...

So sad to hear you have a damper on your vacation :-( Come back to us at work, WE MISS YOU and it's a safe snake free zone...teehee

Meadowview Thymes said...

Hi jj--yep, I am not a happy camper on this one. We are snake hunting tonight! I am almost scared to go out and water. And I am so fearful for all my little friends that come to my yard for dinner. That_____ snake better leave them alone!

misterreereeder said...

I know cotton mouths are no fun. I remember my close encounter with one when I was a scout. That's all I want - is a memory. Not another real thing!!! I hope after tonight that is all you have.

Susie said...

Oh my goodness snakes scare me to death. I get chills just thinking about them. I surely hope your snake hunting is successful. I'm sorry it's wreaking havoc on your time off.

Meadowview Thymes said...

Well Susie and MR--no luck tonight! We went through all grasses and plants and no snake. Bert thinks maybe it was in the pond, or hiding in the rocks. I guess there is a chance it slittered off somewhere else, but I would rather find it and make sure it won't come back. We will keep trying. Ugh!!!

Lola said...

Don't like snakes at all. We have rattlers & moccasins. I sure hope you find it.

Lori said...

Totally creepy!! Thank heaven here where I garden we have no poison snakes. I can barely function when I see garter snakes. I think I'd have to move if something like that was slithering thru my gardens. I REALLY hope your hunt is successful.

Meadowview Thymes said...

Lola-I don't like snakes, but I am use to the water snakes. They are easy to find and easy to kill. We still haven't found this one. :(

Hi Lori! Welcome, but beware of snakes! :)
We still haven't found the snake. Hubby went through all the plants and grasses last night (and we have a tiny yard, so we know we hit all areas). The snake could be in the pond, or hidden in the rocks. We never have cottonmouths so I don't know much about them, but where as the water snakes are so visable, I think the mocassins must hide out. Double yuk!!

Anonymous said...

Oh please be careful you two! Hope you catch it or caught it already. Not a good critter to have lingering near your pond that's for sure.

Meadowview Thymes said...

Still haven't found it Racquel. We (well, hubby) goes out every evening and pokes around with his shovel. I just know it's lurking around somewhere. Gives me the creeps and makes me mad! :)

Aunt Debbi/kurts mom said...

I got the seed you sent in the mail yesterday. Thank you so much.

Meadowview Thymes said...

Hope they do well for you Debbi!

Pam/Digging said...

Hmm, that's not good. I hope you can find it. My in-laws in SW Austin were continually troubled by rattlers in the back garden. They finally put in a solid snake barrier around the perimeter of their yard, and it's done the trick.