Garden Surprise

It looks like a fancy garden hose, but it's not. It's a California king snake and it is very much alive. They aren’t poisonous and they eat small rodents so they are very beneficial here.

Dana came over today to lend a hand in the garden...the part of the garden that we see from the house and use the most (First extra)  It had gotten a bit overgrown and John hates to cut things back as much as they really should be, so Dana took charge.  Meanwhile, I went to class and then to the pharmacy to pick up some prescriptions. It would be really nice if we could both pick up all of our prescriptions at the same time, but that will never happen. Refills are all based on when they were first prescribed and even if the doctor rewrites the prescriptions the insurance companies will not be swayed. 

Dana was instrumental in helping us lay out this part of the garden and it features some intricately laid stones that had disappeared underneath foliage. I found an old photo of the stones in place before we planted it out. (second extra). While she was cutting things back, she disturbed a rather spectacular snake that had probably been living underneath the overgrown salvia. I caught him as he was exiting the premises.  

Now we're going to sit on the porch and survey the fruits of our labors. I'm definitely using the royal 'we' here. 

By the way, I added a sound track to yesterday's 'Talking Head' post. Thanks, freespiral.