My New Potting Medium Slithered Away
 

This morning as I was checking on my plants to see how they weathered last night's severe wind and rain, I noticed some new variegated orange potting media coiled inside my Rhycostylis slat basket. :shock: This little corn snake didn't seem to be concerned about my presence. He remained in the basket for several hours. I was concerned that he might be tangled and stuck,:_( so periodically I would pay him a visit and tickle his belly. This went on for 5 hours. Finally I poured a few cups of rain water over the media and increased the tickling session. To my relief he slithered out of the basket unharmed and made his way to the top of the Orange tree.:biggrin:

how funny!:D

Crazy! What beautiful colors on that guy. However, I'm thankful I will not find him amongst my orchids (I grow in my apartment bedroom!):whew

Awesome.

Kim

It's been 9 hours and he's still hanging out in the canopy of the tree. He's probably waiting for a scrumptious lizard or tree frog dinner.:drool: My hubby will probably never mow near that tree again for fear that a snake will drop on his head.::yikes: :help :faint:

:rofl: Yeah, I'll admit it. I'm with your hubby on that one.

How cool! I wish we had snakes out here!

OMG!!!!!! I WOULD DIE!!!! Me and snakes don't get along down here in FL to well!! Toooooo many of them!!!
I check my pots very cautiously, for that same reason....

Any Mr. Hawaii, becareful what you wish for!!! You ought live in my neck of woods, and you'd get your wish!!! Only I get the MEAN UGLY ONES!!! That like WATER!!! I have a Lake and Koi pond.... Water Moccasins!!!

Oh Jackie...so worried about the snakes! Don't worry until your 5 foot pet one comes after you! JK! I would be worried about the water moccasins too!

Junebug, I think that is a cute find! I woudl have been concerned about my orchid more then him, but that is nice of you to worry about him. Glad he moved along eventually!

Yikes Jenn!! You crazy snake lover you!! You and your 5 footer have a some great fun together, k ;)

So cool June! :biggrin: He's really cute! I'm glad he got out okay. :) But snakes dropping out of trees definitely is a scary thought!

Junebug, what a beautiful red rat snake. As a kid, I had one of those as a pet. They are very docile and rarely bite (as opposed to the yellow rat snakes). They can get very big! I don't see them here in Weston. Just the occasional cottonmouth or banded water snake (which both have a very nasty disposition). You are very lucky to have him there to keep mice away from your orchids! Thanks for showing us the pictures. Very beautiful.

Thanks Susie.

I estimate this snake was about 3 1/2' long. It was amazing that he had coiled his entire length into an 8" slat basket. A few years ago I captured some photos of a much bigger one on a palm tree located near the orange tree. He too was very tolerant and non agressive during his photo shoot. There are also a few black snakes and glass lizards that live among my landscape. I have to remind myself to watch for them when I'm watering and pulling weeds. There is a thick hedge of Mexican Petunias growing beside my back yard fence as well as a compost pile on the side of the house. It's my belief that they normally take refuge and hunt in these areas. The snakes are important part of our ecosystem and I treat them with respect.

Included are a few more photos for your viewing pleasure.

It's amazing to me how they can cling to the side of a palm tree with no hands. It's hard enough to climb those trees with hands, there's not exactly any branches to grab onto.

Beautiful photography, snake, vandas ! I have enjoyed seeing these photos you are very lucky to have these beautiful sites of the animal kingdom 'au naturel'!
Reminds me of my childhood; Snakes etc...are more frightened of us than we are of them (we're alot bigger! If we don't 'annoy/bug' them they will not be agressive towrds us... well, that's my belief and experience!

:waving Junebug, those are beautiful pictures. It shows that you have a very healthy environment in your yard for so many creatures and plants to thrive like that. You should be very proud. :blushing:

Are Corn snakes poisonous ? We have so many really mean snakes here that to touch one would be to take your life in your hands!

About all I see in my neck of the woods is an occasional water snake swiming in my pond. It just tickles me to death, and yes, I do respect them.

Kim

He wasn't big enough to do any harm to that orchid. Birds and rodents would be of more concern vertebrate-wise

Des, corn snakes are nonvenomous as are the majority of snakes in North America. (We do f course, have some from which it is wisest to keep a respectful distance.

Thank you. This home has been my residence for almost 3 years and I do my best to keep it eco friendly.:D Next spring I hope to add a small pond to the environment.

It is an amazing feeling to witness the agility of a snake. Here is another example. Sorry I am unable to post a larger photo.