Look what I picked up at the nursery!
Isn't she lovely?! Have no idea what she is (no tag in her pot) but I set about to plant her in my little "hosta" garden outside our dining room window.
Walking out toward the barn to grab my gardening tools I just about tripped over THIS!
Eeek! About two feet of slithering, nightmare-inducing serpent!
Pretty sure I jumped high enough to impress Michael Jordan and screamed loud enough to alert the authorities.
Seconds later and standing a few feet away, I writhed, trying to shake off my willies. Funny thing though, the snake remained still, his tongue darting in and out of its mouth.
So I ran back to the house and grabbed my camera, thinking, "I should get a picture of this sucker!" See what I do for my blog followers? I risk life and death. Well, I risk serious heebie geebies ~ ha!
When I made it back to the barn I could hardly believe he was still there, so I crept a little closer, ready to Michael Jordan it again if necessary. He began to slither away from me. I think he was afraid of ME!
Hands trembling, I managed to get another shot, as he made his way back into the wood line...
Composure regained, I planted my periniel in the garden. Then walking back into the house, v.e.r.y. carefully watching where I stepped ~ you know ~ in case the snake was stalking me, I saw this!
Ugh! Really?! Hadn't I already surpassed my creepy-crawly threshold for the day?!
Rationally, I know this is a harmless banana spider, but STILL! You probably cannot tell from the picture, but her web is like four feet wide!
Happy to be inside now! And you know what's playing in my head? Anyone remember this song?
Composure regained, I planted my periniel in the garden. Then walking back into the house, v.e.r.y. carefully watching where I stepped ~ you know ~ in case the snake was stalking me, I saw this!
Ugh! Really?! Hadn't I already surpassed my creepy-crawly threshold for the day?!
Rationally, I know this is a harmless banana spider, but STILL! You probably cannot tell from the picture, but her web is like four feet wide!
Happy to be inside now! And you know what's playing in my head? Anyone remember this song?
Any creepy-crawlies around your home? Do tell, and you're automatically entered to win this month's Retro Revival free blog giveaway:
19 comments:
Hello Cindy,
I love your new flower; it looks like a Hollyhock. I am totally with you; I don’t like snakes or spiders either. We have a lot of snakes in our neighbor because it borders Oscar Scherer State Park. My hubby and Destiny found a five foot rattle snake in the driveway about six months ago. I am always on the lookout when I travel outside; plus don’t forget about the alligators. I believe that you are right; all of God’s creatures are more afraid of us then we are of them.
Have a fun and creative day!
Smiles, Paula
ewww... eeekkk... run away... run away...
You had me laughing, I can just picture it as I would have done the same thing! It's been a long time since I've seen a spider web that big; they are truly nature's artists! Toads are our thing right now. They are huge! Which means their poo is huge..when I pick up the doggie poo, I have to pick up the toadie poo too!
eeekkk
I do know what that is like. It just takes your breath away. We have a big backyard that is not grown up but it backs up to the woods. There are ants, spiders w/webs, snakes, baby rabbits, rats and all sorts of things in the back yard. When I go out the back door I try to prepare for anything. Heck, a couple of years ago there was a family of ferel pigs. We though "mmmm, ham for Christmas" :)
Sometimes I feel like indiana jones. HA!
Cheree
(cheree93@aol.com)
I am not too scared of snakes, and some spiders I'm OK with. I have a weird irrational fear of stink bugs. DC is dealing with a serious stink bug problem and they are EVERYWHERE! They get in the house mysteriously, I mean even when windows and doors are closed! They are creepy suckers!
Yes we have creepy crawlies too. But smaller ones. No snakes yet. We have a lot of lizards.
LOL I hate snakes too, when I was little, my brothers put one down my back and I hate them to this day!!! (A give a way at my blog too!) :D
You are a brave girl----------my 8th grade teacher made me stay after school until I held a snake----------didn't like them then and not now. Good picture, you get 4 stars for bravery.
But that was just a little ol non-poisonous snakey! He probably eats the meecy miceys.
We are loving the 13 year cicadias right now. The hum gets louder every day! Sounds just like a B-Movie Space Ship - totally cool. The bugs themselves have RED eyes!! Very creepy cool.
Cindy, your flower is Foxglove. Be careful because it's poisonous.
Snakes freak me out too! I ran into a copperhead on my way to my chicken barn when I lived in N.C. I had to kill it myself and that was gross!
~Angela
VERY COOL! Information (Retro Farm Wife) I just may go get a couple - very pretty!
Foxglove
Digitalis purpurea (Scrophulariaceae)
One of the loveliest, most important plant species that has been introduced from Europe and naturalized in various parts of North America. The flowers are numerous, on a spike, and range from a deep purple to lilac with conspicuous spots interlining the throat of the tubular flower. As a biennial, the leaves form a rosette the first year followed by the flower spike the next year. Prefers a nitrogen-rich sandy loam soil, in partial sun to full shade.
Average planting success with this species: 50%
Height: 2-4 feet
Germination: 20-30 days
Optimum soil temperature for germination: 60-65F
Sowing depth: Surface Sow
Blooming period: June-September
Average seeds per pound: 4,360,000
Seeding rate: 1/2 lb. per acre
Suggested use: Shaded areas, wildflower mixes, waste places.
Miscellaneous: Foxglove is a source of digitalis prescribed by doctors to strengthen the heart and regulate its beat. Extremely poisonous! Enjoy, but do not eat!.
@Tracy ~ thank you for the information! So happy you're following my blog ~ you always make me smile:)
OH my gosh yes. My husband heard me all the way in the house. He came running out and just to tell me it was a grass snake don't worry it will not hurt you. No thank you I asked him to take care of it but by the time he came back it was gone. And I did not stick around to find out where it went. It gives me chicken skin just thinking about it.
Hugs
donna
In all that I forgot to tell you what a beautiful plant.
Hugs
donna
My fear of snakes is such that I would never have had the composure to get the camera and then see if the snake was still there! Lightheaded just thinking about it... :-)
PS Longtime Jim Stafford fan - used to love his tv show back in the day.
LOve the flowers ... they will be perfect out your window! They are foxgloves. I do remember Jim Stafford!
Hugs,
Donna
I forgot to mention I hate snakes more than anything! Spiders don't bother me as much.
Snakes ... UGHH!!!
I hate spiders, but snakes don't really bother me much. I mean, I'd be startled if I ran into one randomly, but a spider sends me screaming and flailing! LOL!
I love snakes! That's a cute one. But spiders, yikes. I had some sort of animal visiting the backyard that I called the Chupacabra. I think it probably was a young fox, but it was very odd looking.
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