Greetings from Boston! I'm new here. This is a great forum and I look forward to learning from you guys.

This handsome little beaut was just waiting for me to pick him/her up. I was surprised he was out today, because it was only 50 degrees and cloudy in Boston. I was cutting the lawn and he was sitting motionless on the pea stone patio. I picked him up and he never tried to bite, probably because he was too cold. He did manage to skunk me. They always do that to me. My wife was taking the pictures and asked what that smell was. LOL! I wanted to keep it for my kids (really me - hehe), but I figured I better let him go to catch him another day

Would you guys say it was a Common Garter (Thamnophis sirtalis) or an Eastern Garter (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis)? I never knew the difference if there is one.
Thanks!