Hey there and welcome back to the Beginners Garden podcast. I'm so excited about what we're going to be

talking about today. And I know that sounds really strange because we're talking about snakes and

specifically snakes in our gardens. If we've been gardening any length of time, we have probably

encountered a snake or two in our gardens. And most of the time we think about,

is this a good snake or is this a bad snake? And regardless of how you feel about snakes,

I think you're going to learn a lot today. I have invited my friend Johnny Sane to the podcast.

He and I have known each other for a really long time. And what has fascinated me about him

is how in tuned he is

with wildlife and with snakes in particular. He's also an avid gardener. A few things that he'll talk

with us about today is how to protect ourselves and be careful when we're in the garden, how to

look at snakes a little bit differently. Maybe it's not a matter

of good versus bad and just some general safe practices. I have already been putting into practice

some of the things that he shared with me in my own garden this year. And I hope that you will not only

enjoy this conversation, but you will leave more educated and informed,

maybe a little bit less scared and were appreciative, potentially, if you have snakes in your

garden. Enjoy this conversation with my friend Johnny.

Johnny, we have known each other probably two decades, I would say. Yeah, a long time.

You first sold me an insurance policy before my almost 19-year-old was born.

And from what I recall about you, I don't remember hearing a whole lot about your love for wildlife and nature.

And as we're going to talk about today, snakes, has this

always been something that you've been interested in? Yes. Ever since I was very young, my

earliest memories are of being enthralled with animals, all animals. I really had thing for dinosaurs.

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