Karen, On the garter snake, You may actually want to leave it there. Snakes put out scents that attract others of their own kind, this will in most cases stop other types form coming in. kingsankes are the best for this but a Garter puts off a pretty good scent too. At least with the garters you know what it is, It's easy to identify,you know it's harmless to people and pets ( Well except scaring you to death) and it making home around your pond might keep more unwanted snakes away. There is a product available at Tractor supply and most lawn and garden centers called snakes away, It's a powder you'll put out away from the pond but around the perimter that is suppose to keep snakes away, does it work? I really don't know. I have a ribbon garter that has made it's home in the lotus area and I have seen it several times a day for the last week. It's gotten so used to me that I can now walk up to withing inches of it and it doesn't run or try to bite. Last night it came and rested within a few inches of me and I enjoyed watching it very much. I've watched this little guy grow from about 10" to well over 2' now and it's really been neat to watch. You may get rid of it but who knows what might show up next. I've decided to not touch this one and let it be, If I'm going to have one near the pond I like knowing that it's a friendly easy to identfy species that won't harm my fish, Might lose a small frog or two here and there or a lizard or two but I have plenty. and reducing a few isn't going to effect the orchastra tha much! LOL
On the bugs, I guess I'm not a good pond plant person on that, I pretty much let have let nature ake it's course. Only aguatic plant bug removal I have done is a few catapillars that eat the Lotus and thalia leaves, I do remove them and throw them in for the fish to eat, They look at me and say thank you for the treat!
