You never know what might "pop up" when you walk the grounds here at Pleasant Prairie..........

I was tending to the flowers in the early morning, and startled a rather large coach whip snake, hiding in the cool shade of the leaves.....................

It dashed away and darted into a hole, however, in just a few moments, I noticed what seemed to be a stick in the ground............

and realized it was the snake, coming out of the hole,

but keeping a good eye on me. Yes, I got very close for this photo.........and yes, I have been bitten by this kind of snake before.  A few years ago, I was trying to pull one away from my chickens, it swung back and popped me on the hand. They are not venomous, but can deliver a good wound.

One night, as Sophie and I went outside, I heard a crying, chirping sound. We apparently had scared a group of raccoons who were out at the feeders and a very small baby raccoon was left behind, calling out to it's mother. It ran up into the pickup tire and hid there until Sophie and I went inside.

If you remember the two little birds I named Twitter and Tweet?

They started flying and learned to eat on their own. I was able to release them into the wild and watched them fly away...........a bittersweet moment for me.

Hopefully in a couple of weeks, I will be able to show you my zinnia gardens in bloom. So far they are growing well.

]

I can't say as much for my pumpkins this year. I have a few miniature Jack Be Little's.

but the vines are starting to die away..............

and I have green pumpkins this year...........but not any golden ones as of yet. The vines are starting to look weary and worn and I don't expect a good harvest. I don't know exactly what it is going wrong with them...........a whole lot of work.........with much discouragement. Too much rain on some occasions and too much high heat play a large role in this.

I have been working away at embroidering roses for bathroom towels for the bathroom. I am getting to think I am better at stitching flowers and vegetables rather than growing them.

How about you?

Any creatures popping up and surprising you in your garden?

How is your garden growing ?

I would love to hear!