Now I'm starting to till the garden...and I'm not sure if this should turn me in favor of rototilling or against it, but there are *snakes* back there. Lots of 'em. I'm not sure what kind they are...they look pretty much like the garter snakes I've seen back east, but with a yellow underbelly and some orange to their backs.
But I've never seen garter snakes posture like these have been doing. Their usual methods of defense are
1. run
2. run and hide
3. run real fast and hide
So I don't know if these are just a different variety, or what they are. But they're freaking me out. I killed a few with the shovel, though likely they're poor harmless little guys. *shudder*
Cisco's no help. He was happy to growl menacingly at the dead one...but the lives ones he got stirred up (near me, I might add) and then ran away whimpering when they started to rear up. Way to go, tough dog...though I'd rather that than that he get bit, even by a garter snake.
I hate snakes. I would set the yard on fire and then when the brush is burned off, import new soil and build my garden. This may actually be why plants don't like me.
Whew, got more boxes packed... took out a bunch of trash, washed pots preperatory to packing them. It's a little hard to believe that a week from now I'll be heading east.
Well, if'n that was our house, we'd just invite the naybers and have church...
They are just garter snakes - probably been living under your tarp. :~D
If it makes you feel any better, we have ~no~ venomous snakes here.