Snakes Alive!

 This year we have had a large number of garter snakes emerging from under the concrete patio slab and the hot tub.  For the past few weeks they come out around 9:30 A.M., warm up for awhile and then go off to do their garter snake business.  We have counted up to 15 at one time.  

We have two different species of garter snakes here.  The mostly brown ones are Northwestern Garter Snakes, and the more colorful ones are Common Garter Snakes, subspecies Red-sided.

Morning warm-up

An alligator lizard also takes part in the morning ritual.

Nearby, the Rufous Hummingbirds are doing their own thing.

I have always been fascinated by reptiles since I was in second grade.  Gail and I both look forward to seeing them each day.  Daisy remembers where she has seen the snakes, and stops to look for them on our walks.  She almost always leaves them alone, but is very curious about them.