Most mornings I wake up early, very early. Even this morning I was laying awake at three a.m. making a list in my head of all I needed to do before the day got too hot. One of those things was to cut the old blooms off the rose bushes. Lynn told me years ago that if you clip the old blooms back to the first group of five leaves the rose bush will keep blooming.
By 6:30 Poppy was at work and I had fed and watered the animals, raked the chicken lot, swept the goat barn, and put BunBun is his lot to play.
I cut most of the dead blooms off two rose bushes and moved on to the third one. It was at the third rose bush that I got the life scared out of me.
No doubt, there will be a lecture from Poppy. Where was that pistol I bought you? Why didn't you shoot the snake?
Friends, it is just not in me to kill a snake or anything else. I catch house flies and wasps in a big yogurt cup and set them free. No way am I attempting to shoot a snake out of a rose bush! I did however move on up to the garden to work. The snake disappeared.
Thanks for stopping by. Hope to be back soon.
Love,
Henny
SScary for sure. I would have blasted it. BUT then I am cranky and kill houseflies and wasps:)
ReplyDeleteYou tickle me! I'm too afraid of shooting myself.
DeleteWe encountered a Garter snake yesterday, coiled up inside the mower engine.......she slithered on her way and hopefully will help keep the field mice at bay. I'm not a snake-lover, but if they are not the poisonous variety I'm OK with letting them share the land I've seen two black snakes this year, is that what yours is ?
ReplyDeletePretty tree, they have the most beautiful flowers.
Don't be getting to hot now !
~Jo
Yes, I think that was just a black snake. I have seen one Garter a few summers ago. They seem to stay hidden most of the time.
DeleteIs there anything more startling than a snake. I would have screamed like a little girl and ran like one, too. But, never would I harm it.
ReplyDeleteYep, that sounds like me. I don't even remember if I screamed when I almost touched it! :)
Deleteuh, I don't care what kind of snake it is, I hate all snakes. My ex-husband use to chase me with them...that's one reason he's the "ex".
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness. No wonder he's the "ex"! I'm scared of snakes too.
DeleteThat's a pretty reflection! That snake would have given me a heart attack.
ReplyDeleteThank you Terri. It almost gave me one! :)
DeleteSuch a stunning garden and a beautiful reflection with all the glorious blossom. A feast for the eyes. I have to admit I would have been scared to see the snake.
ReplyDeleteThank you. It did give me a scare!
DeleteThanks for the rose reminder! And good on ya to let the snake move on. They are important :-).
ReplyDeleteSnakes are important to us. Thank you! :)
DeleteA dedicated blogger you are - you managed to get a photo before you fled!
ReplyDeleteI love Eil's plume of a tail.
Actually I did flee! I ran for the camera and managed to get back in time.
DeleteThat is a lovely reflection photograph! Oh that snake would have scared the crap out of me! but I'm like you and would have let it go on it's way. I had heard that you cut roses back to the first branch of seven leaves:) so now I'll have to google it!
ReplyDeleteThis was an interesting site, and looks like we are both right:)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.heirloomroses.com/care/pruning
I'll have to check out this site. Thank you.
DeleteWe just drove through Missouri, Arkansas and Texas to the gulf area. The mimosas were just gorgeous along the way. They're one of the prettiest trees there are. We saw some really huge ones. The crape myrtles are in bloom down here. I love those, too. I hope you got your chores done early enough that you didn't have a heat stroke outside. The humidity is really high here from all the rain of tropical storm Bill, so we don't want to spend much time outside, either.
ReplyDeleteOh I bet you have seen some big beautiful Mimosas along the way. I love Crape Myrtles too and have always wanted to plant some here. We just don't have room for another tree. That high humidity is what really makes being outside miserable.
DeleteThat is a lovely reflection photograph! Oh that snake would have scared the crap out of me! but I'm like you and would have let it go on it's way. I had heard that you cut roses back to the first branch of seven leaves:) so now I'll have to google it!
ReplyDeleteThe snake did scare me. I can't help it...a snake is scary!
DeleteMy gosh your pond and mimosa tree are gorgeous. We don't as a rule kill critters either, just relocate them. Except for the copperhead snake in the rose bed next to the garage. Poisonous ones have to go.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Oh yes, a Copperhead is dangerous and they hide under bean vines and plants. I am so afraid of Copperheads!
DeleteWell, Eli looks like he's keeping a lookout.
ReplyDeleteI tell myself I'm not afraid of snakes, but I was out gardening a couple of days ago and a little garter snake slithered by, and yes, I did give a yelp!
It's just seeing a snake, period! Scream and run!
DeleteFirst off Eli's haircut so looks good. I am going to see about finding some place to take Keeper and get him a "proper" hair cut I think. I will not leave him somewhere but if they will schedule an appt. and do it while I am there with him I will do it :O). I have really got his tail messed up sighhh.... He doesn't do so good with strangers so I feel I should stay with him. :O)... anyway the snake ewwwwwwwwwwww girly... But I too can't kill things. I once shot a snake.. At first I was very proud of myself and my honeyman was like yep see that is why you need that gun and to know how to use it... then I spent the next couple weeks apologizing to the universe and god and angels and anyone else I could think of for taking the snakes life. I felt soooooooooo bad. So nope I don't kill things eithers. Your mimosa tree is awesome, that is a great photo of it!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that. When I first saw Eli's haircut I felt bad for doing it. I love his long hair. He really seemed to feel better though, especially with this heat and humidity. I know you rescued Keeper. Do you think he was mistreated? Is that why he is nervous with strangers? Bless his heart. I'm so glad you have him now. These are such special dogs. More like a person than a dog. You sound JUST LIKE ME! I can't stand to kill anything. I let a board fall on a baby guinea last fall and honestly, I held that dead baby guinea and cried and apologized over and over.
DeleteWell, we all need a good surprise once in a while. You certainly got your surprise.
ReplyDeleteI suppose! :) It does keep you on your toes!
DeleteI love the mimosa tree picture that is beautiful!! I really can not believe that you set flies and wasp free???? Hope you have a wonderful day! Love you bunches!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYep. I do Vicki. :) I love you!
DeleteUgh. I just could not garden where there are snakes in the bushes. I would have to move away. Yes, my phobia is that bad.
ReplyDeleteWe are currently in the south, in Mississippi right now. The heat and humidity are so oppressive that we limit the amount of time that we are out in it. This is difficult for us because we are outdoors sort of travelers. We are learning to take it slow - no aerobic walking here.
Oh my! I bet is is hard to adjust to this heat and high humidity! It's terrible! Glad you don't have snakes in your lovely garden. :) Take care and have fun!
DeleteOh dear! Snakes I don't care for at all. We only get the occasional garter snake One dry year I had one come to one of my birdbaths that was conveniently close to a tall plant ( that the snake climbed to get to the water).
ReplyDeleteHe must have been really thirsty. I've seen only one garter snake here.
DeleteThank goodness you saw it before it saw you! The mimosa tree and it's reflection are simply gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteOh that's true. Can you imagine it biting me! Yikes!
DeleteGoodness! If I saw a snake in a rose bush and had a gun in hand I would probably be so flabbergasted that I would shoot my foot off and the snake would make a clean get away!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you made a clean get away this time.
Love the reflected mimosa. They are such beautiful, graceful trees.
Well now that's what I try to tell Poppy. I am in more danger carrying a gun! Thank you Vic! :)
DeleteJust a black snake, fortunately. They eat mice and such. God watched over you and no one (or thing) was injured. :-)
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful place to relax in.
Have a blessed day. ♥