Chicago Garter Snake Basking On a Warm Winter Day

I found this beautiful little Chicago Garter basking among some leaf litter. This garter awoke from hibernation to bask in the warm sunshine on an unusually warm February day. That fact makes this photograph invaluable and rare. I find it unusual and unbelievable; I'm so enthralled to have a photograph this spectacular. This garter was pretty quiet and allowed me to photograph it without disturbing it at all. After taking a few photos I left it alone to bask in peace. What a little pearler!