Turtle Reds*

It’s high summer and the sun is rising…

…Along with the temperature. Jobs that need doing better get done as early as possible. In the veggie strip at the far back reaches of the property, yellow pear and black cherry tomatoes are melting right off of the vines. Being away from the garden allows the fruits of our labors to get out of hand. Those hands need to get busy and get this mess cleaned up so that fresh new growth can produce fresh newly ripened tomatoes. But wait…

…What, or should it be who is this? Someone is already doing a fine clean up job in the tomato patch, caught in the act, evidence still dripping from their mouth.

Nearly slipping on the sloping gravel paths and tripping on the wobbly rock steps, the camera is fetched from inside the addition. Oh good, our helper is still here, but looking wary of all the noise someone is making.

Oh hey, here is a larger tomato from a volunteer seedling, but it has a big rotten spot. Would you like it?

Uh oh. That was a major turtle manners faux pas, it seems. Our diner is turning to leave, giving us a sideways glare that does not exude gratitude.

Noooo! Don’t go! We are so sorry! But to no avail. The neck is extended, the legs are at full length and there is surprising speed in the escape mode.

They are traveling fast, the camera can barely keep up. They are heading back to the brush pile that has been building for ten years at the property line.

Up, up and away! I did not know turtles could climb! Behind the rusty, falling down fencing that is held up by the stacks of limbs and leavings, our guest will soon disappear.

Going, going,… barely visible so an apple shaped diagram was drawn to help you, dear readers, to discern the whereabouts…gone.

Oh well, back to the task of tomato pruning whilst we ponder this close encounter of the best kind, gentle wildlife, here at the Fairegarden.

We remember back to last fall when there was a similar encounter over at the ornamental peach tree, which can be read about by clicking here-Turtle Blues. The above shot from that post shows what we believe to be a different box turtle, a female if eye color is any indication, although the neck, head and legs are black and yellow, unlike our tomato eating friend who sports gray legs, neck and head. According to this site, what we have are two seperate box turtles, a male and a female. Oh joyous day, for do you know what that means?

There could be baby turtles!!! Maybe. Someday. Perhaps. There is plenty of food for a nice family here and lots of fine living accomadations. The mystery of who has been eating the strawberries along the nearby path might also have been solved. Good thing we just tied up the wild and crazy raspberry vines, those are not for sharing, sorry to be greedy but there you go.

*Rather than the beloved Janis Joplin number, this title refers to male turtle eye color, unless there is a song out there with this title that is apropos.

Frances

~ by fairegarden on July 30, 2010.