Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Say It With Me, Red And Yellow.......

Well, it's been warm enough for a few days and gardeners need to stay alert while pulling weeds and planting new plants. It's official at my house, the snakes are out. Lyn found the first one of the year. She called earlier today to say there was a large Coral snake by one of the ponds. I told her to catch it so I could get some pictures. She scooped it into a bucket. For a Coral snake it was a pretty big one, around 26" long. The largest one I've ever seen or heard of was one my younger brother David and I caught when we were kids. It was 36" long. I've never seen one even close to that long since then.


This Coral snake has been around the ponds for years now. So, after taking some pictures I turned him loose. They are really not all that dangerous as they have such a small mouth and are very tame and easy going. I really don't know what you would have to do to get one to bite you. Plus, with that color, they are as pretty as any flower I've ever grown. In my opinion, a good thing for the gardens at Draco. Now say it with me, "Red and yellow, kill a fellow, red and black, poison lack."




12 comments:

Caroline said...

So is this snake poisonous? Because the yellow bands are touching the red bands?

Tabor said...

Beautiful snake and with that tiny head it would indeed be hard to get bit!

Rock rose said...

What a beauty Bob. We have seen corals around here. In fact we had one in our front walled garden one day. How he got in I don't know. I am always rooting around in the plants with no gloves on which is probably pretty stupid but then old habits and all that. I always heard red next to black, friend of Jack. Poison lack is a new one on me. Thanks for the fine photos.

katina said...

I always heard "Red and Yellow Kill a Fellow, Red and Black don't hurt Jack" But then, I don't know why I ever learned that when I lived in Colorado and there aren't any Coral snakes...only Rattlers. That being said, I don't know if I would totally freak out about seeing this snake. I probably would because I generally freak out about all snakes in the wild.

Anonymous said...

wow. great photos! I would definitely freak - no question. After 18 months in central tx I have yet to see any snake, but I know they're out there!

Unknown said...

I'm with Katina. I grew up in Florida where we do have such creatures as this and I am pretty sure I was taught "red and yellow kill a fellow..." Be careful out there!

Diana said...

Great pictures. The only ones I was willing to take photos of were of rattlesnakes I'd already shot the heads off! My son saved the rest in a bucket to show his high school buddies. And I was pregnant and wearing heels and a skirt when I did it! Wish someone had taken a picture of me toting that gun. Never had a coral snake, mustly just rattlers and harmless rat snakes around here. Thanks for reminding us that they're out now.

ESP said...

Hi Bob.
Great to finally get to meet you in person...I hope my goodbye handshake wasn't too painful! :-)
Had a fun afternoon and my trusty steed got me home with just a little bit of transmission slippage.

I will be showing the hobbits the coral snake images tomorrow. I hope the Rattler escaped getting shot! Haha!

Interesting idea on the fence/water front, I have been thinking about it since I left today!

You, and your wife will have to schedule a visit to the Patch soon and meet the water-bug and fashion girl first-hand, I am sure you will get along like a house on fire with a Tahoe in it! Anyway the Naboo are bugging me to see the infamous translator from their sister tribe in the far-east.

Appreciate the plants Bob, the artemisia and mist flower particularly, very excited. The hobbits are going to help me plant them in the morning.

Great day.
ESP.

Diana said...

Bob- Thanks for coming so far today - it was so much fun. And thanks for the plants - I took an artemesia and the giant petunia and they are planted. I also have two others I can't ID and can't remember what you said. I have the stick with the hint of green and some green plant 4 inches high with wispy foliage (not the grey artemsia). What are those 2?!!Love mystery plants, but I want to put them in the right place. Thanks again for sharing plants.

Garden Lily said...

Wow, that's the "real thing". In the movies, the coral (which is usually played by the harmless milk snake) instill enough fear to cause self-inflicted harm. I'm glad you can coexist or "live and let live" - it is a beautiful creature.

Unknown said...

Beautiful snake, wouldn't want to see one in my yard with the little ones running/crawling around, but I have heard that they have a hard time administering their venom since they have to chew it in and most victims won't sit still to let them. Nice to hear that they are mellow as well.

ConsciousGardener said...

Cool photos, glad to see your a snake fan...I think they're magical!