Wednesday, March 19, 2014

"Let's make it perfectly clear...

I don't like spiders and snakes. And that ain't what it takes to love me." Remember that song by Jim Stafford? It just came to me as I was creating this post. Don't worry, no spiders here, but there are snakes since a few of you said you didn't mind, and I'm running low on material.
Broad banded watersnake


Smaller broad banded watersnake


Let me pretty things up with some dewberries

Possibly a diamondback watersnake.


Large clump of trillium growing beneath a young tree.
Sorry for any heebie geebies or ear worms resulting from this post. :)

39 comments:

Indrani said...

In one of those captures, it is looking straight in to your eyes! Weren't you scared?!
Wow captures!

Nancy's Notes said...

Yikes!

Elizabeth Edwards said...

i think you are trying to give me a heart attack this AM. i skipped all photos. to the comment section. i will say have a great day. i will imagine they are perfect little snakes, tongues & all. i am sorry i have yet to get over my snake encounters from last year. i am wondering how many i will see this year? fingers crossed for only ones on the computer screen. ok, ok, i will try to be brave & i will look. here goes. are you holding my hand???! just jump . . . .. ( :

Elizabeth Edwards said...

ok, they have very pretty eyes. pretty colors? ok, work with me here. ha. ha!! but i think they are staring at me. aren't they??! later. . . . . ( :

Optimistic Existentialist said...

Beautiful!! I love snakes. Always have. Spiders on the other hand, not so much :)

Bas. said...

wauwwww wat is dit mooi.

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

that 3rd shot is a wowzer

Kim Stevens said...

Awesome, awesome, but somehow I don't think that is a surprise coming from me! ;) And I think you're right, I think that one may be a diamond back water snake too.

I used to have a corn snake, it was so beautiful and he went to all eight 4th grade classes when my daughter was in 4th grade along with some of my birds. We have to reach the kids when they are young , to teach them to respect nature, and then maybe they wouldn't grow up to be adults who dislike and fear everything. Nearly all the thank you's I got from the girls wanted to know how much they were and what you needed to have one. I loved it. Thanks for sharing these!

Unknown said...

Gail,
I love the pretty plants you photographed. Spring is near.

How did you get so close to those snakes? Did you see them in the wild?

Anvilcloud said...

I don't love snakes, but they are quite fascinating.

Andy said...

You me and Indiana Jones have the same feelings about snakes. That still did not stop you from getting some great shots.

Karen said...

Oh Gail, these are terrific! That third one is fantastic!

TexWisGirl said...

they're absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! especially since they are non-venomous varieties. just gorgeous creatures. :)

hootnonny said...

You captured evil!

There was a black racer in my yard and the lawn guys were beating the dwarf nandina in front of my house thinking it was wrapped around them. Once they caught it (it slithered from the juniper, I had the nandina pulled up! Can't remove the juniper because it's holding a small hill. They have (almost) no place to hide in my yard!

Buttons Thoughts said...

Oh AWESOME shots but my feet are off the floor now and I am a bit nervous even though I know they are not in my kitchen. Not my favourite thing to see:) Hug B

Anonymous said...

When snakes eat rodents the are okay. When they eat birds they are not okay. May you never find pythons in your area!

Stephanie said...

Oh Gail, talk about making my skin crawl!! The one of the snake looking right at you almost made me squeal! Your photos are great even if they are of snakes. Hugs to you, friend!

Irma said...

Hi Gail,
Beautiful photos of the snakes.
Photo 4 and 7 I find really great.
Greetings Irma

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Cool snake shots! The one really seems to be staring you down.

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

In that third photo, I think he was sizing you up and wondering just how far he could unhinge that jaw. Love the 7th one...great detail. Really beautiful captures all around.

Nancy said...

If the snakes are not poisonous, I would want to pick them up~ Snakes are so beneficial to the ecosystem.

Awesome shots as always, Gail!

DeniseinVA said...

Oh wow Gail, these are so cool! I love them all but that one where he is staring right at you is amazing. I saw two water moccasins in Florida but they were all tangled up in branches and hard to take photos of. These are fantastic!

Anita Johnson said...

I remember the song too. And as beautiful and clear as these shots are...I'm moving on to your next post...OWLS, my favorite birds!

maryaustria said...

Fascinating photos! I like snakes (from the distance). They have a beauty!

Anonymous said...

Very cool shots of the snakes. Pretty trillium at the base of the tree.

eileeninmd said...

Snakes are cool, as long as I am not close to them.. Pretty flowers! Awesome shots!

Shug said...

Whew girl.....my heart is really pounding. Can I say...Great Photos...it's just that I'm terrified of these things. I do indeed hope that you had a good distance with a good lens, between you and the snake. With all the swamp ground, there are plenty of these things around. My heart is still pounding!! lol.
shug

Barb said...

You got pretty close! I'm a little skittish about snakes, but I do enjoy a good look at your photos. I don't think they can "get" me!

Debbie said...

WoW...these are amazing, so much detail!! I dislike snakes but I love these images. Perfect timing!!

Deanna said...

Oh sorry, not a snake lover, but those trilliums are gorgeous

Laura Delegal - Leroy Photography said...

Love them. How wonderful you saw them!

Evelyn S. said...

I think I would have difficulty photographing any snake in Louisiana! :-)

Barbara said...

These are beautiful! I love that third one. Great capture!

Charlotte Wilson said...

I will forgive you this trespass...just this once. :o)

Charlotte Wilson said...

A creature like these are what got us in trouble in the first place.

Unknown said...

Beautiful captures of a beautiful creature!

Brian King said...

Not a fan of spiders when they end up in the house, but snakes I don't mind. These are nice photos! The third one made me chuckle!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

I don't mind spiders and snakes cuz.thats not what it takes ......wait a minute, I don't mind them in the right place. Not in my house. But outside is fine. Although one of my sons had a pet snake for a while. In a terrarium. In our house. We all survived. Yours are lovely. They have great color.

Suzan said...

I-yi-yi!!
You are much too close to that snake. Amazing with that tongue!!
Grew up on a lake in central Fla. We had a shovel on every corner of the house and garage due to all the water moccasins.
I know that first snake is a very good snake and that you have a zoom - at least I hope you did! But yikes, a snake is a snake!!