A little surprise amongst the weeds

You know how I've said in the past that I actually enjoy weeding, at least in small doses? If you don't remember here are my reasons: you restore order to a crazy planting bed, you get up-close and personal with many of your plants, it's repetitive and calming, and there's a gratifying sense of accomplishment when you're finished.

Here's another reason to add to the list: you sometimes find things that you'd otherwise pass right by.

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I took a few minutes to pull some weeds from in and around the prairie bed the other day, and as I was clearing the area around this rock, I saw something:

Can you make it out?

How about if I hold back more of the plants and try a longer exposure...

Yep, a tiny turtle!

It's a box turtle -- most likely a three-toed box turtle that was born last year. (It may also be an ornate box turtle -- I didn't want to disturb this one by picking it up.) This year's turtles will start hatching at about this time, but hatchlings are only an inch long or so -- this guy is small, but not that small!

I see adult box turtles once in a while, but they're still rare enough to be an exciting find. Plus any animal that is still in baby form is reason to get out the camera, right?

I pushed the grass back over his hiding spot, although I don't expect him to hang around. Turtles may be slow, but they're certainly not sedentary -- I almost always see them on the move in my yard.

I'm going to have to be extra careful when mowing the lawn or walking around now that I know there are baby turtles around!

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