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| From In the Garden |
This guy was actually crossing the state highway in front of my home when a nice lady in a car stopped to make sure it crossed safely. She was a rarity though and I wish more were like her so that fewer turtles and animals would perish in our roadways.
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| From In the Garden |
The toenails of this turtle were quite interesting. We know from our experiences in the past that turtles eat worms and slugs and other small things in the soil. They obviously dig to get these critters and wow-they can be diggers indeed. I'd love to have some turtles take up permanent residence at Tiger Gardens but with the dogs and the lure of greener pastures behind our property all our turtles soon move on...
in the garden....
Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,
In the Garden
Would it be what's called a painted turtle?
ReplyDeleteDawn, It is possible but I read that painted turtles also have red stripes on their legs? Do they get big? This guy is at least one foot long. I'll try to do more research to find out. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHey, we had one yesterday too! Pierre the cat and Mr. Turtle went nose to nose. Pierre got bored with his new 'friend' when it acted too much like a rock. It must be that time of year.
ReplyDeleteKeep gardening - Jeanne
What a delight! We don't have turtles close by.
ReplyDeleteTina,
ReplyDeleteYou have a Yellow-bellied Slider there! Quite cute isn't it. Yesterday I was working in a kindergarten classroom and they have a 6 inch YB Slider in the room.
Turtles are neat aren't they. I so wish my girls were here, they would know exactly what type of turtle you have here.
ReplyDeleteYou've got a good gardening buddy there. The holes/digging really isn't destructive IMHO. I like to see them nesting around. Just don't let the shell coloring scare you when you're working in the garden and catch a glimpse (thinking of snakes).
ReplyDeleteGood thing it's not a snapper! Snappers have very flat shells and get quite broad across the back. We had a snapper cross the meadow last year. Don't know why it was on such a long journey.
I would agree with Randy on the ID, but check out this site. It helped me on a recent post.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?guide=Turtles
Sorry I can't i.d. the turtle for you, Tina, but it must not be a snapping turtle if you could pick it up:) Of all the pets my kids had, turtles were the easiest to take care of. When my oldest son was in the Army, we babysat his turtle Jake. When he returned home, he decided to set him free--I think there's some symbolism there:)
ReplyDeleteMy neighbor had a turtle in her backyard recently, too, and she had even laid eggs. Maybe you'll have more mystery turtles, too.
Good Morning All.
ReplyDeleteTina, Nina, Skeeter, Jean, Anonymous & Dawn I hope you have a wonderful day.
I had a turtle that made a path on the inside of the fence. Don't know where he came from nor do I know where he went. Never could catch the traveler in his travels.
We have a turtle down here that they call a "Gopher Turtle" which buries himself & makes tunnels under the ground.
Can't say for sure what kind your turtle is but he is a nice garden friend.
He's probably thinking you're looking for your turtle soup recipe:)
ReplyDeleteWhen I lived on the Tennessee River I spent hours moving turtles off the highway. I wish motorists would care just a little and avoid them.
Marnie
Jeanne, You are right-must be the season.
ReplyDeleteVerdant Wilds, Hello and welcome! You are from an area I am familiar with but we need to get you some turtles up there-soon!
Randy, Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I really did research quite a bit but could not figure out this lady's identity. A very sweet gal according to what I've read.
Darla, Randy identified my turtle as a yellow bellied slider. A nice turtle indeed but thanks on the girls. I hope they are doing well.
Cameron, I actually would welcome the snakes. In all the years I've lived here I think I've seen less than 10-total. Wonder where they all are? The turtles are nice, they can dig here anytime. You should see the dogs go crazy over them though. That snapper in your neighborhood was looking for your garden-to help you dig and to get those worms-he is smart.
Les, That is a really good site. I've bookmarked it now for future reference. Thanks on the confirmation of the identity.
Rose, I had no idea you had a son in the Army. Well how about that, we learn something new each day. I think turtles are cool but never had one as a pet. Had a snake though, they were pretty easy.
Lola, That gopher turtle sounds most interesting. It is a helper for digging for sure. Too cool!
Marnie, Yuck! That is one thing I've never tried and have no desire. Have you? But if I did look for that recipe this gal would make a huge potful. I was surprised to see a lady stop and watch this turtle cross the road. Very rare she was. I think sometimes folks try to hit them. Sad for sure.
When my mystery plant is ID'd I'll let you know and then you can let me know if you want some, okay?
ReplyDeleteDarla, Thanks, I'd love to know the identity for sure.
ReplyDeleteI tell you, that Randy is an expert when it comes to identification. My seventeen year old daughter stopped her car on the pond dam the other day to get out an pick up a little turtle to make sure it got safely to the other side. We get quite a few of them passing through thanks to the draw of the water. Carla
ReplyDeleteOkay, come back over the mystery is solved!
ReplyDeleteHow cool is that, to have a turtle that size show up in your yard. Lucky the dogs did not get it first. Bella and BJ must have been nuts over it. I already thought it was very cool but then when you said it eats slugs, I thought, well darn it, wish they would show up here. I do get plenty of snakes due to the stone wall on 3 sides of the garden. Always were on the north side every time you moved or adjusted a rock one would pop out. They must have got tired of being bothered and moved to the south side this year as I don't seem to move as many over there.
ReplyDeleteAre you talking about the pet snake you had when we lived in Brunswick and were in grade school?
You kids used to take it out for walks on the paved walkways. Now if only we had pictures of it and of Dawn when she first spotted it.
Thatwould be a whale of a post!!!!!
Sorry I can't help with the id, but I'm glad Randy & Les were so helpful. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool visitor! I've never seen any turtles around here. I hope he hangs around for awhile.
ReplyDeleteDo you care for a Glory Bower?
ReplyDeleteCarla, Randy is very smart when it comes to wildlife identification. Good thing he blogs so we can pick his mind for great info.
ReplyDeleteDarla, I'm going to pass on the glory bower for now. But thanks so much for the very kind offer.
Mom, Well of course. That cute little grass snake was so fun. Funny thing is now I'd be afraid to catch one-even harmless ones like that one.I don't bother them or mind them but just don't mess with them. We had a 3 footer black snake in the garden recently. A client was here and she spotted it before me and was further away from me. She made sure she moved even further away. I don't know what it went but hope it is eating the little varmits here. I think snakes are cool as long as they leave me and my plants alone, they can have it with the critters. The turtle was in the front so the dogs were not privy. They can get into it with turtles though.
Racquel, They were both most helpful.
Catherine, Now watch, a turtle will probably show up soon-you know those coincidences.
We have turtles come up to our garden all the time!
ReplyDeleteThey come up from the creek to lay their eggs in the sand and often times stop at the pond for a drink!
I call my hubby and daughter turtle rescuers as they often times stop to help a turtle cross the road!
Hugz, Dolly
I love that name~Yellow Bellied Slider! gail
ReplyDeleteDolly, hello and welcome from Michigan. Aren't turtles just too cute. I read some are endangered and they need all the help they can get so it is great your family helps them out.
ReplyDeleteGail, A neat name indeed.
Have a great weekend all!
Tina, your garden is truly a paradise to have turtles show up! I've never seen any in mine but I'd like to! I'm glad you got her/him id'd. Yellow bellied slider sounds like a pond turtle?? I will look it up. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeletecould that turtle be displaced by the flooding. we have seen more unusal creatures around because of that.
ReplyDeletemy father used to bring home gopher turtle when i was young. we always loved having them around.
happy june days.
NICE! I often have gopher tortoises in my yard. I like them.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun, I can't help you on the ID we don't have turtles living wild in northern BC. To us they are like tropical fish, we get from the pet store, and keep in aquariums. Have a great weekend Tina.
ReplyDeleteThat is a very special visitor. I am glad you got to see it and get photos to show us as well. Very neat!
ReplyDeleteHow exciting to find a turtle! Do you live in countryside? Curious...
ReplyDeleteHow cool! We don't get turtles around here, the only ones we would ever see would be escaped pets. I see you already have a positive identification. I was going to say it looks a lot like a pet turtle I had as a kid, he was a wood turtle. They get larger like that, and didn't have the folding up shell. I just love all the critters. Makes me wish I didn't live among so much concrete and traffic.
ReplyDeleteKathleen, Yes, a still water or pond/lake turtle. They make nice pets too but it is not for us.
ReplyDeleteMarmee, It could be displaced for sure, but we often have turtles come thru here so I'm not sure. Gopher turtles sound pretty cool. I've never seen one before.
Kimberly, Way cool. They help with aerating the soil I would imagine.
Melanie, In Maine where I grew up it was the same, turtles in stores for pets. Most of the states I've lived in now have banned this practice. Including I think Maine, but there is a thriving outside market for them. People love them as pets for some reason.
Rosey, Thanks and glad you like her.
Chandramouli, Not really countryside, kind of combo country and suburbia. An idea mix for us. Turtles are common here though.
Megan, Yes indeed, concrete would tend to discourage turtles I think. These kinds are common pets so it may be similar to the wood turtle?
ReplyDeleteWe occasionally have turtles in our garden, and they are always welcome. When my son Josh was four years old, he was holding one in his hand when he made an important discovery. "He bites!" Josh started hollering. The box turtle had a hold of his finger and wouldn't let go! No harm done; his teeth didn't puncture the skin, but we learned to be more respectful!
ReplyDeleteHello, back in GA and playing catch up. We have Sliders in GA too. I was saddened to see so many turtles smashed on the road by Dunbar Cave and Swan lake while in TN. Poor things need a tunnel to go under to avoid the road....
ReplyDelete