This morning, before I even picked up the watering can, something caught my eye on the greenhouse floor.
A snake skin.
For a second, I just stood there looking at it. It was much bigger than the one I found last year.
Last summer, I only noticed the old skin after I had already watered everything. It had blended in so well that I completely missed it until the ground was wet. This time, though, I spotted it before I started watering, and I was rather glad about that. It gave me a chance to admire it properly.
Finding a snake skin always feels a little magical. It means one of our quiet garden visitors has been here, slipping silently between the tomato plants, leaving only this delicate reminder behind. The skin is so light and fragile, yet every tiny scale is perfectly visible.
I have no idea where the snake was hiding when I walked in, and perhaps that’s for the best. We seem to have reached an understanding: I grow vegetables, and it helps keep unwanted visitors away.
I know some people would be startled by finding a snake in their greenhouse, but here in Latvia, grass snakes are harmless, and I actually enjoy knowing they share our garden. They are part of the little ecosystem we’ve created around the old house.
Still, I think I’ll keep looking at the ground before I start watering from now on. Apparently, my greenhouse has a regular reptilian visitor.
Have you ever found a snake skin in your garden?
Ilze
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There are no snakes in New Zealand.
That’s amazing! I wonder why?
Well there are plenty of snakes in Australia . . . you would not like to meet most and I have never seen or heard of any shedding their skin. When we see one anywhere near the house or (God forbid – inside) we phone the governmental organization responsible who will send someone to catch it and take it away soonest possible.
I have not found any snake skins in this garden, but I see snakes from time to time. Vipers are common.
I have a cornfield nearby and woods. We see harmless snakes from time to time. I am hoping they are keeping the mouse population down.
I’ve come across sheded snake skins but not in a garden. Amazing critter they are!
Yes, many and they still freak me out. I’m not a fan of any snake.
One thing I love about Latvian folklore is how differently it sees snakes. Instead of being symbols of evil, they were often believed to protect the home, bring good fortune, and represent wisdom… with that in mind – all snakes are NICE 🙂
They are all nice if they stay away from me.
🙂 Like your attitude!
Well…last year I went to the reptile expo. I like reptiles…😅 I saw and touched snakes (not poisonous) in my hometown (Japan).
I am interested in legends and myths about snakes in Latvia. Do you know anything?
Greetings from Latvia!
One thing I love about Latvian folklore is how differently it sees snakes. Instead of being symbols of evil, they were often believed to protect the home, bring good fortune, and represent wisdom. All that said, I guess Latvians forgot all that.
I’m so lucky to find the snake skin in my greenhouse, BUT there aren’t many like me – i’m the weird one 😉
How lovely to have such a visitor; in Australia a skin like this would mean that a poisonous snake was here. Very poisonous actually.
I know that… and I still wouldn’t trade living in Latvia. 😄 Our neighbours from Australia wear boots all summer long, while we’re out here enjoying the grass barefoot.
Oh! I’m not happy with the rabbit munching on my peppers, but I think he’s better than the snake.
🙂 All is relative…. all is relative! Rabbit ate my apple trees in winter time. They didn’t survive, so I’m mad … at myself for not putting the fence around them. Snake skin is stored in jar in an old secreter. I was tired of explaining why the heck I have snake skin in my dinning room 🙂
I have not found one, but it would be nice to know they are around 🙂