Woohoo! I'm so excited!

16 years ago

Went out to turn off the waterfall pump before going to work this afternoon and was surprised to find a new resident. This shot was taken thru a glass sliding door approximately fifty feet from the pond so it's not very clear, but you can see the cutest little turtle basking on the log in the middle of the pond! He/she won't let me get close enough for an accurate ID before diving into the water, but comes back up on the log fairly quickly. Looks like either an Eastern Painted or an Eastern Red-bellied Turtle. Either way, I'm thrilled he/she chose my pond as I've considered buying a turtle (or two or ten). Sure hope it likes the accommodations and decides to stay :)

Linda

{{gwi:204219}}

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Comments (12)

nkm56
16 years ago
How adorable! I wish I was so lucky, as I've considered getting a turtle also. It looks quite content sitting there basking.

I notice a "streak" across your picture just above the water lily blossom. Is this filament line for predator protection?
cliff_and_joann
16 years ago
AW, How cute, looks like he's claimed a prime piece of real estate!.....I hope he stays.

Joann
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I'm sorry, I'm so excited I have to post again!
Q
Comments (16)
Thanks, guys :-) Some mildly analytical stuff: 1. The containers that have sprouted are all part of a the ones I grouped together in big garbage bags...I guess that ups the temps a bit, having the big plastic around them. I put a lot of containers in the bags for easy transport and for dog protection (from picking up a container and running off with it...which has happened before). Not all the containers in the bags have sprouted (there's a whole lot more of them), but those on the list above have. 2. The sprouted containers are also with a group of containers that are in Southern exposure. ( I have other bags of containers on my porch, in Northern exposure). This proves why it could be bad to have them in Southern exposure, because now, I'm more inclined to worry, since we now have snow and it's going to be in the 20s or lower tonight. But then, the ouotdoor temps have been in the low to mid 20s every night for the past two weeks and that didn't keep them from sprouting. ..but I'm not looking at those containers or opening them up...not for a few days, at least. Whatever will be will be...and I have a feeling a lot of those sprouts will be just fine. --I think I do need to slip a thermometer inside one of those bags of containers, though. I'm curious as to how much warmer it is in there. Linda
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I'm so excited! Look what we're getting!!
Q
Comments (47)
I suggest that you go in with more than a mention. Oil companies have massive amounts of money and could financially, easily put in another road. But putting in a road involves rights of way, and sometimes land purchase which can translate into a long waiting time to drill which I can assure you is not going to happen. Before you go in, see if you can get some info/suggestions about alternative routes so it will look to the commission like any possible road change is doable in a reasonable amount of time. Don't make the mistake of thinking that any oil or state commission is on your side. You can get concessions, sometimes, but they involve planning and work on your part before you ever walk in and propose them. The trick to getting concessions from the commission/oil companies is to look at the world with their eyes, and to suggest changes that are quick and efficient and will shield them from possible liability, like a safer road. Morals isn't going to get it so try for the effective changes. They will spend money but do not want to spend time. And go in prepared, if you show up and just whine you are going to get ignored and you will have lost your 'first impressions' advantage. And, one more suggestion. If the trucks are not flying but actually doing the speed limit, don't overstate your case; it may be that a suggestion by the commission might be made to change custody/location of the child if there are no records of accidents but your son insists that the current setup is dangerous. Don't open a can of worms you can't close. If you agree that oil has bought up all the politicians, and your grandson's location might hold up a well, and that could be changed by an oil bought politician asking a judge to make a custody change, well you see where this is going. If there are police records of accidents in that area, however, that is powerful info bring records of the reports with you.
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I can't believe this exists I'm so excited
Q
Comments (15)
On my phone I can't type. Or rather I can, but then Houzz erases EVERYTHING. When I use voice recognition, it write almost what I say, but I can't edit without gobbledegoop coming up. It repeats the word multiple times.I think with Houzz's issues we need to cut people some slack. Sometimes a laptop isn't nearby or convenient when we just HAVE to respond to a post! I'm just happy people still love to garden. : ))
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My first bloom of Evelyn. I'm so excited!
Q
Comments (52)
Lily, I purchased Evelyn from the US Austin nursery in Texas. I don't ordinarily buy grafted roses but I wanted a large bush and thought their roses would take off quickly. It was bought as a bare-root in January, I believe, and has grown nicely and both plants of Evelyn have buds. Here is the bloom again, in its third day as an open flower. The cool, moist weather is no doubt helping the bloom to stay nice-looking for so long, but many other roses are doing less well, so I think it's just a rose for our type of climate, and it should do very well in your new location in Temecula. Diane, I'm so looking forward to your spring blooms. Please tell them to hurry up! I'm thrilled that I now have an Evelyn too. oursteelers, thank you so much, you are so kind.
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obsessed-nj
Original Author
16 years ago
Actually, that's the original nylon rope marking where the shallow (3') part of the swimming pool ends and the deep (6') part begins. I left it there to keep the water hyacinth from swamping my water lilies. :)
Linda
bugsb
16 years ago
Congratulations on your new resident. I really enjoy my Pebbles and Bam Bam (red eared slider turtles) they keep the rest of the pond dwellers and guests in line. Your water hyacinth really look nice also.

Here is a link that might be useful: My pond the way it was before the freeze.
comettose
16 years ago
What a cutie pie! I think she/he will stay since they moved in on their own. Let's hope no armored relatives show up though! Your pond is beautiful!
obsessed-nj
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you ALL for your kind compliments and well wishes! Kinda wish my new tenant had showed up on a "clear water" day instead of a "pea green" day so you could have seen all the goldfish swimming under/around his log ;) Oh, well, he seems content to match the decor so I guess it's all good!Just wish I had more time to sit and enjoy the pond life.
Linda
turtlesrgr8t
16 years ago
Hello..new to the site and have been thrilled reading all of your comments. Getting ready to do a 8/11 pond for my RES guys who have been in a 50 gal aquarium/and kiddy pool on sunny days. You all sound like you're out in the woods or have no fences and have pretty cold winters..here in california everything is fenced and walled..will wildlife find my pond? I have had a blue heron feasting on my goldfish (feeders)when I clipped back all the bushes and exposed it to his fly over..I did purchase tadpoles for my really small pond and now have a frog and 2 toads (you never know what your gon'a get).
Thanksgiving is our project date so I'm gathering as much info and pics as I can. I appreciate all the input from this site.
always_outside
16 years ago
I live right in the heart of Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, and my yard is small and located in the tight CITY. It's fenced in completely, yet I have found snakes (small, harmless ones!) and toads visiting my pond. It's really neat seeing these creatures in the city. :) In the spring, it gets a little annoying bc the toads croak a lot, but it's still nice having them visit.
sleeplessinftwayne
16 years ago
I'm in the middle of a suburb almost next to the Indiana-Purdue Campus. We are far from any substantial wooded area but we have had an amazing number of animals show up, especially at night. Sandy
Lily316
16 years ago
I was thinking of buying a turtle for my ponds but thought they would just walk away and maybe die , so I never did. Good luck with yours. If he came on his own, he'll probably stay..I just didn't want to see one mushed on my busy street.
obsessed-nj
Original Author
16 years ago
The little guy in the picture in my original post stuck around for a couple of months then disappeared as quietly as he arrived. I thoroughly enjoyed having him here and made sure he could leave if/when he wanted. My backyard is surrounded by a 6' chain link fence and the only things it keeps out are unwanted visitors, dogs other than mine, and (so far) deer. I enjoy the company of a resident ground hog, multitudes of squirrels, chipmunks, birds, frogs and toads - and some not-so-welcome visitors such as woods rats
and a few feral cats that kill every frog they can catch. I bought the 40'x100' lot backing mine just to prevent anyone from clearing the trees that provide food and shelter for so much local wildlife. Nothing de-stresses like sitting pondside and enjoying nature at her best. : )
Linda
turtlesrgr8t
16 years ago
We started with the cute plastic tub you get at the pet store to a 10 gal tank and then to a 50 gallon tank and now we've cleared the corner of our yard to install a 11/16 pond that will be made especially for our guys. Chance is the size of a salad plate and Chance's Buddy is the size of a tea cup. They've been great to watch inside but want them in the wild with beach areas for egg laying and basking. I hope to make it escape proof, although we're missing one from the kiddy pool already. They're pretty tough and can go into hibernation by digging in so I'm hoping he'll show up after we get the pond done...can't wait to start digging.

Woohoo! I'm so excited!

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nkm56

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Woohoo! I'm so excited!

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