MORE rain, I can't believe 3 weeks later and it's just been more of the same! Had over 1" the other night, probably have that today since it is pouring (though not overflowing the gutters since DH cleaned them out after water started pooling under the porch and coming into the basement). Planted a couple dozen pepper plants on Friday, still haven't put out tomatoes and the rest of the peppers (put them back in garage this AM, we've been going in and out so much I don't know if they know they're hardened off LOL). Tomato trellis is all up and I started digging for squash bed but yesterday the tomato trenches were wet on the lower end (a couple really wet) and the squash bed looked like a hog wallow. I did add some pebbles to the bottom of 1 trench, dug out farther for drainage, and added some partially-composted wood chips and more top soil to all the trenches. We'll see how it looks Monday when the rain stops. I don't know if I'm even going to plant squash this year - though I finally started 6 cukes inside the other day. I bought 2 rain barrels - didn't hook them up, but just left the tops off this AM - we'll see how much they collect in 48 hrs! Need to get the sauerkraut washed out of them. I'm just hoping I can plant out 60 tomatoes and about 30 peppers b/t Monday and Thurs - then the rains come again! With the drought and the floods in the South, and all this rain in the Northeast, is anybody going to be able to grow any crops this year? CA doing OK? How's FL? Are we all going to have to live off canned goods for the next year?

Thank you, Wayne! I had no idea what the underside of a BWS looked like. Now I know. When I saw the comparison photo above, I was pretty sure it wasn't the mud snake we originally guessed. I reckon I need to know what our snakies look like from beneath...though to be sure, when you are seeing that side, the snake is usually not a threat any longer, if it ever was to start with. I knew I could count on you or one of the others from the Reptile forum to let us know on this one. Poor little snakey guy. So many people just don't understand, sadly. Thanks again, and I will remember this pattern! Marcia

The snake is definately an Eastern Kingsnake ,Lampropeltis getulus getulus. Benificial as well as NOT venomous . Although they will defend themselves when threatened as would any other animal or human being for that matter !

Brian, Of those you want to see I would rank their likelihood in this order: Southern Black Racer, Mississippi Green Water Snake, Green Tree Frog, Mud Snake, Bird-Voiced Tree Frog. I've seen all but the Bird-Voiced Tree Frog there and Racers and Mississippi Green Water Snakes are reasonably likely finds on any given day. The swamps along the road are the best spots for Mud Snakes and Mississippi Green Water Snakes (for Mud Snakes especially the swamp near the South road block...the end opposite Winter's Pond). That entrance is also the best place for Green Tree Frogs. Racers I usually see on the bluffs.