Good Golly, What's That In The Garden ?

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Marge Tindal

Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-06

Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores

0 posted 2006-06-11 09:47 AM

Good Golly, What's That In The Garden ?
~*Marge Tindal*~

Do my eyes deceive me, or am I right on cue
There's something in the garden that I didn't grew~

It's moving around the Azalea plants
like it knows where it's going
Quick call a Wildlife officer
cause they be knowing just what to do ...
when an alligator comes calling
the way they sometimes do~

This unwelcome visitor hasn't got a chance, you see
he's far away from the lake and heading back with glee~

Around his neck a noose, to hold him in place
while the officer applies the tape to make him safe~

It's all over now, but the release
back to the wild from which he came
Whew ... sure it's Florida
but, I've never been so ill at ease~

~Okay kiddo's ... this is about enough adventure for me~
Bill has lived on this property for over 50 years,
this is a FIRST, and we hope a LAST~
This little critter measured 4 foot ... don't wanna met his Mama !!!

~*The sound of a kiss is not as strong as that of a cannon, but it's echo endures much longer*~
Email - [email protected]

Betty
Senior Member

since 2002-08-13

Posts 1159
Virginia

1 posted 2006-06-11 10:34 AM

Marge you are wonderful. You make poetry about anything. I would have been freaking out. Hope you don't see anymore either.
Love ya,
Betty

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

2 posted 2006-06-11 10:48 AM

Awwwww, Marge/sis....I think he's cute!!!

miscellanea
Member Elite

since 2004-06-24

Posts 4060
OH

3 posted 2006-06-11 10:58 AM

You don't want to meet his mama? I can't understand why... Reminds me of a vacation when we camped in Fla. Oh my... I've been wondering what to write a prose about, and now the answer has come! Thank you for the inspiration, darling pictures and poem.

misce

Enchantress
Member Empyrean

since 2001-08-14

Posts 35113
Canada eh.

4 posted 2006-06-11 11:05 AM

OMG!! Marge!!! What was it doing in your garden!!?
I sure wouldn't want to be walking barefoot out there
with that thing creeping around!!
No way would I have even been able to get a picture!!
His mamma can't be too too far away!!

Excellent pics and words.
Hugs~Nancy

passing shadows
Member Empyrean

since 1999-08-26

Posts 45577
displaced

5 posted 2006-06-11 11:20 AM

hehehehe Marge! I thought this was a big one when looking at the pictures in order till I got to the last one

It's not fun to walk up on one of these things, no.

I have walked up on a Mama before...they are fascinating creatures.

Magnus

Member Laureate

since 2001-10-10

Posts 14135
South Carolina, USA

6 posted 2006-06-11 11:39 AM

thank goodness it was ONLY 4 feet long...
Long enough to put a serious nip in one's
butt...

Marge Tindal

Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-06

Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores

7 posted 2006-06-11 12:20 PM

Yeah ... a four footer would and could do some serious damage~

Bill was napping in his recliner when I came in and said, "Hate to wake you, babe, but there's a gator in the yard."
Got his eyes opened REAL QUICK !

I gathered up our dogs and locked them up,
Bill got a gun, a pitchfork and a rope (?) and headed out to stand guard~

I first dialed 911 .. which got me through to the sheriff's office ... they gave me a toll-free number to call an organization called SNAP ... the woman who answered my call there was ... well, you decide~

The converstion went like this -

Me - "Hello, I want to report a gator in my yard."

Her -  "An ALLIgator ?"
(Wonder who clued her in ?)

Me - "Yes."

Her - "Is it agressive or docile ?"

Me - "It's in the yard in my azalea garden, just waiting for me to finish this call."

Her - "How large is it ?"

Me - "Three to four feet long."

Her - "Could you be a little more specific ?"

Me - "It's between THREE and FOUR feet long. That's 36 to 48 inches."

Her - "Well, is it closer to three feet or closer to four ?"

HELLO !!!!

Me -  "I'm truthfully not willing to go out and measure it for you."

Her - "Okay, I'll fax the report over."

Me - "Can you give me an estimated time of arrival of an officer ?"

Her - "I'm going to fax the report over right now."

We stood guard, as the gator decided to move around, for about 45 minutes until the Wildlife officer arrived.

DUH !

IF there's ever a 'next time' ...
the gun may be used before the call is made !!!

Thanks everyone ... it's never dull at the ~Meadow-of-Marge~

*Huglets*
~*Marge*~
~*The sound of a kiss is not as strong as that of a cannon, but it's echo endures much longer*~
Email -       [email protected]

Trillium

Member Patricius

since 2001-03-09

Posts 12098
Idaho, USA

8 posted 2006-06-11 03:20 PM

Dear Marge; What a scary thing to have happen! I'll bet you think twice and look more than that, before walking around in your yard now! Too bad, as it is not as relaxing when you think a gator might be lurking somewhere! Wonderful photos and you are very brave to get that close!

Love
Betty Lou

Betty Lou Hebert

Goldenrose
Member Elite

since 2003-05-30

Posts 3665

9 posted 2006-06-11 03:25 PM

These creatures grow v quickly marge, thanks for the words and photo's but be careful..

Goldenrose.

Corinne
Member Ascendant

since 1999-10-28

Posts 5167
state of confusion

10 posted 2006-06-11 08:29 PM

Good Golly, Mis Margie!

heh, must have been quite a scare!

Thanks for sharing this "tail" with us!

Corinne

Jess
Member

since 2006-06-06

Posts 243
Washington

11 posted 2006-06-11 08:36 PM

that must've given you quite a scare!!! But lucky for the rest of us you turned the "adventure" into a poem!!!

scorpio
Member Ascendant

since 2002-10-02

Posts 5178
right...there

12 posted 2006-06-11 09:01 PM

I hear they make great purses Marge!! Have you located your gardener yet??

believe in what your heart feels...

The Lady
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-12-26

Posts 7634
The Southwest

13 posted 2006-06-11 10:07 PM

Wow Marge. What an incredible day you've had. The thing I always wonder is who is the fool who takes the tape OFF his mouth and how fast can he run?

The woman at SNAP sounds positively genius.

skyshine

Member Elite

since 2002-02-07

Posts 3058
Beneath the northern stars

14 posted 2006-06-11 11:26 PM

My goodness, Marge! What a surprise that must have been!

We don't have alligators up here, but we do have bats. I opened up my kitchen cupboard one night, and a dead one fell out. Not my idea of a nice surprise! lol At least you got a poem out of your visitor.

~sky

I hope someday you get the chance to live like you were dying....
~Tim McGraw

skyshine

Member Elite

since 2002-02-07

Posts 3058
Beneath the northern stars

15 posted 2006-06-11 11:28 PM

Oh, and I loved the conversation with the lady from SNAP.

I hope someday you get the chance to live like you were dying....
~Tim McGraw

iliana
Member Patricius

since 2003-12-05

Posts 13434
USA

16 posted 2006-06-12 12:07 PM

Oh my gosh, Marge!!!! Glad you are safe now. Great shots btw......*hugs*....jo

Marge Tindal

Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-06

Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores

17 posted 2006-06-12 10:58 AM

Oh, believe me folks, this lady is careful as careful can be~

LOL ... everything that moves in the yard is now under suspicion~

The blurry pics should attest to my nervousness as I stood the watch~

No repeats of this one are wanted or needed~
*Huglets*

~*Marge*~

~*The sound of a kiss is not as strong as that of a cannon, but it's echo endures much longer*~
Email - [email protected]

latearrival
Member Ascendant

since 2003-03-21

Posts 5499
Florida

18 posted 2006-06-12 11:45 AM

Marge, Did you give alli a name before he/she left? LOL martyjo

Marge Tindal

Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-06

Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores

19 posted 2006-06-12 11:50 AM

LOL @ you, MartyJo~

Ya' know ... it never even crossed my mind to name the critter ... but 'SNAP' sounds good~

*Huglets*
~*Marge*~
~*The sound of a kiss is not as strong as that of a cannon, but it's echo endures much longer*~
Email - [email protected]

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

20 posted 2006-06-12 11:53 AM

Marge/sis....When a great big bear came into our yard last year we called 911....and guess what...no one ever came!!

Marge Tindal

Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-06

Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores

21 posted 2006-06-12 01:01 PM

MartieSis~
Well ... I'll let the *SNAP* lady know .. maybe she'll fax your request right over~

Hey ... if they send just half a good-looking hunk as they sent here ... it will be well worth the wait !!!

Love you Sis~
*Huglets*
~*Marge*~
~*The sound of a kiss is not as strong as that of a cannon, but it's echo endures much longer*~
Email - [email protected]

Nightshade

Member Patricius

since 2001-08-31

Posts 13962
just out of reach

22 posted 2006-06-12 01:04 PM

OMG !!!!!

Gee whiz Marge .. and I thought having a too hungry squirrel bite into the peanut I was offering AND my finger was scarey !!
Perhaps you just should have yelled at the gator .. "Leave before I make you into a new pair of shoes for Bill !" lol.

hugs, Chris

latearrival
Member Ascendant

since 2003-03-21

Posts 5499
Florida

23 posted 2006-06-13 02:45 AM

Last night we had a bear peeking in the window of a woman student. You can bet she was one scared lady! LOL They are on the roam in Florida as elsewhere. Good for a little excitement huh? martyjo

nakdthoughts
Member Laureate

since 2000-10-29

Posts 19200
Between the Lines

24 posted 2006-06-13 06:46 AM

Enjoyed the poem and all the responses

Sure glad we don't have them around here.

M

1slick_lady
Member Ascendant

since 2000-12-22

Posts 6088
standing on a shadow's lace

25 posted 2006-06-13 07:44 AM

wowwwwwwwww

SmartChick
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-09-23

Posts 7081
On A Journey To The Unknown

26 posted 2006-06-23 03:38 PM

Sounds like you had an exciting day, Marge.

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