Another unique turtle encounter

Last year I saw box turtles all the time in my garden, or at least the same turtle multiple times. The most unique was when I saw a female laying eggs in one of my planting beds! Yesterday I had another unique encounter with turtles -- well two actually.


The first happened in the morning when I saw a turtle at the edge of my pond. I suppose it was trying to get a drink, but it was up on a rock so I'm unsure how that went. The second and more interesting encounter was in the evening, as I was walking to my neighbor's to dig a couple of her ferns out (pictured above) which she graciously said I could have.



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Her yard consists of lawn, ivy, vinca, and in the spring these ferns. She also has the largest, most wonderful rock in the neighborhood in her front yard, but that's outside the scope of this story. The ivy is key though, as it apparently provides a pretty nice habitat.

This toad was a couple of feet from the ferns that I wanted to dig:


But the toad is not central to the story -- he's just mentioned to add supporting evidence to the fact that the ivy provides habitat.

The turtles in the ivy are central to the story though:


Yes, I happened upon turtles mating!

I snapped a couple of photos then moved on to dig my ferns, and 10 minutes later when I walked back over here, the male was gone...


...nowhere to be found. Those box turtles are quite fast when they want to be!


I'm not sure if she was receptive to his mating attempt -- it's pretty difficult to tell with turtles unless you've got a really good view of the right parts of these reptiles -- but I think it's quite lucky that I got a chance to see two turtles together at all!


(By the way my computer was having troubles yesterday, hence the reason for no post. I'm using a backup machine now, so all should be fine from now on...)

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Mark and Gaz  – (May 8, 2015 at 8:47 AM)  

Now I wonder if she'll go to your garden now to lay her eggs :)

outlawgardener  – (May 8, 2015 at 9:36 AM)  

Reptile porn, how interesting! Poor gal, that guy was obviously the love 'em and leave 'em type!

susie @ persimmon moon cottage  – (May 8, 2015 at 3:12 PM)  

I haven't seen any box turtles in our neighborhood for years now. I am glad they are still proliferating (and boy are they!) where you live.. Maybe that is the same female you saw laying eggs last year. Hopefully she will visit your garden when she lays eggs this year. The secret lives of box turtles aren't so secret anymore after this post.

Amazing that you were able to catch pictures of the toad and the turtles. You must have been walking very quietly.

Lisa  – (May 8, 2015 at 8:15 PM)  

We happened upon a pair of snapping turtles in the midst of making more little snappers. They were in the neighborhood pond and it was quite a turbulent encounter!

danger garden  – (May 9, 2015 at 1:02 AM)  

A friend told me a humorous story about hearing a mysterious "click, click, click" and hunting done it's origin. It was two turtles caught in the act.

www.ravenscourtgardens. com  – (May 9, 2015 at 3:06 PM)  

A perfect spring day....birds, bees, toads and turtle sex! Oh and free fern!

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