Boomer!

I cannot say that I know what Robert Frost meant when he decided on the above quote. I have come to a somewhat uneasy coexistence with several of these little (and not so little creatures) in my garden. It all began when the garden mulch pile grew higher and higher. This was a great attraction for all kinds of wildlife and snakes were included in that description. The biggest and best of these is “Boomer”. He has great presence as he comes moving down the rows between the gardens. He is not easily intimidated nor is he aggressive. He will simply take another path if it looks like the path is too busy. Surprisingly, he is very inquisitive and I have occasionally looked up from my planting to see him a distance away looking on like a casual observer. I will always be a bit startled if he surprises me and I use a bit of an old hoe handle as a “snake stick” to rustle the row or bush that I am picking from. That way no one is in for any surprises.