All summer long this little snake has been lying in wait for me on the porch stoop. He stalks me, incognito on the edge of the cement step, for that perfect moment to startle me. This morning, our first serious jacket day of autumn, he did it again.

little garter snake

After my initial screech, I paused and squatted down to study him as he studied me. He’s kind of a little bit cute isn’t he?

scared by a garter snake

As I pulled out my phone to snap his picture, THIS guy (or momma?) slithered out of the fading flowers straight at me! I was so startled that I fell back on my behind in the middle of the walkway. I couldn’t scurry away fast enough.

I like to think that I scared him more than he scared me. I wonder when they go into hibernation?