There are a lot of snakes around the farm. This is a good thing; they keep the rodent and insect populations in check, and I admire their beauty. Most of the snakes around here are black snakes, worm snakes and garter snakes, but I know there are also some copperheads lurking about.
I had the misfortune of stumbling upon a dead black snake today, and I have her blood on my hands (not literally). She got tangled up in the wildlife netting that keeps our kitchen garden safe from deer and rabbits. This must have happened sometime between last night and this morning.
The flies are doing their job.
This snake is between 3 and 4 feet long!
We used wildlife netting for fencing this year because it is cheap. We erected the kitchen garden fence while we were in the midst of building the Hen House, and we had spent A LOT of money on building materials. We weren't sure that the wildlife netting fence would be effective in keeping our veggies safe, but it has worked impeccably well. This was our first tragedy.
We had planned all along to buy more substantial fencing for the kitchen garden no later than next spring. This purchase has now become even more urgent. I don't want to see any more critters fall victim to this lethal structure.
On the bright side, that snake didn't get the chance to hurt the chickens or dogs. I know she's not poisonous, but I wouldn't want Thurgood or Miles to get a nasty bite while "playing" with the rubbery rope toy.
I'm too much of a wuss when it comes to dead animals, so I'll have Ben move her when he gets home from work. "How was your day, Honey? Wanna move a dead snake for me?"
Now for something more positive...
The fernleaf fiddleneck has bloomed! This is one of my favorite flowers. It's extremely aromatic.
Roses are always lovely. Miles loves to stop and smell them (literally).
The not-so-simple nasturtium
