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Florida Gardening

My daily visitor to my yard

16 years ago

So...while walking to refill my coffee cup the other day, I looked out my kitchen window onto my back stairs to see this guy....and, yes, I am a bit behind on my weeding!

I am just REALLY happy I wasn't walking out the door at this moment...we both would have had a scare.

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Is someone watching me?....

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These pics aren't that vivid as I was taking them through a window. I'm 99.9% sure it's a Black Racer, but would love confirmation. It sure is fast, I will tell you that. And, that's the smaller of two I have seen. The other was about 4ft long and a bit thicker. I haven't seen Big Daddy in a while thouugh, but Junior visits my yard every day.

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Comments (6)

manature
16 years ago
Yes, it's a black racer, and a handsome fellow, indeed! I haven't seen the two that I know reside here in some weeks now. I think they are mostly undercover in the daytime now that it is so hot, and doing their hunting at night. I believe they live under my shed, where Potter is constantly barking and trying to poke his nose under, but I'm not sure.

Thanks for sharing the pics...lovely!!

Marcia
SaintPFLA
Original Author
16 years ago
Yaaay! I was right! Really, in person, Junior looks a lot bigger than in these photos. My cat really wants to catch him. He usually goes nuts when he sees that snake crossing the yard.
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cindeea
16 years ago
Nice snake you got there, StP, and great photos. Yesterday afternoon Dan (#1 sion of Dennis the builder) was mowing the yard. He shut the lawn mower down to empty the catch bag. When he tried to restart it, it choked. This very big black racer had wound itself around the blade mechanism in a very short time. It is amazing he didn't get hacked!! Once Dan turned the mower over to inspect it, the racer just slipped off through the grass unharmed!!
ladywingr
16 years ago
That's funny that you name them. Mine are Momma, Blackie, Little Blackie and "the other one"... LOL! They don't usually bother me (even to the point that they come out to "help" when I'm raking leaves) but when they started doing the twisty thing as a pair on my pool deck - I drew the line and got out the hose!

BTW - If you missed your hummer for a day, she came down south here for a quick visit - thanks for sharing! It was the first time I have seen one here.
SaintPFLA
Original Author
16 years ago
Is THAT where she went?!? :) Funny, I saw her on Thursday but not Friday or today.

Okay...first you got my one and only bunting...now, my hummer?...please tell her that I bought some blue salvia just for her! :)
ladywingr
16 years ago
Whoops - I just put some black & blue in this past week - maybe that's what happened?

I didn't see her today and the wind is blowing north so you should see her back tomorrow :-)

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