April 10, 2010

Ginger and Fred

Ginger and Fred are my baby land turtles (tortoises). A friend of mine mentioned, they were giving away baby turtles as they had too many in their garden and I agreed to help them find new homes for them. But.... when I saw the tiniest one, it was love at first sight, so I kept  one, and later on adopted another one from the same garden. I couldn't wait for them to wake up in the mornings. They don't play with me or anything, but spending time with them relaxes me. They take the time to wake up, to come out, to feel and smell the air, to look for a shiny spot in the morning... and I think I can learn a great deal from them... slowing down will be my motto for 2010. I was like "ok, now we won't need to mow the lawn" as we have 2 turtles. I still don't have to as this is hubby's job, but boy, was I wrong all the way! You see, these turtles don't eat  the ordinary, manicured grass so I feed them dandelion leaves, plantain leaves, wild ruccola, hibiscus flowers, salad, radicchio, tomatoes, some fruit form time to time and some tortoise complete food with the proper ration between fiber and protein. I also add some calcium powder to their food for the healthy growth of the shell. I got them in 2007, while I was studying for the State law exam and they helped me stay sane! Pupa (cat) is not even slightly interested in them as they are too slow for her, but you wouldn't believe it how fast can they go! I often let them roam freely in the small park just on the other side of our street but I watch over them as they can be gone in 15 minutes. They just keep going, they have their home with them and if I let them out of my sight they'd never return home. In the first year I was afraid that some bigger bird might get them so I was extra careful. They are both bigger now (i think both are girls) but I still keep them inside over night. They hibernated throughout the winter and woke up in March. I missed you girls:))

June 2007
 
August 2007

June 2008
October 2009
April 2010

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Their shells are beautiful!

Elda said...

they're 2 gorgeous misses!

Eva said...

They are absolutely beautiful, and so small at first. Have they reached their maximum weight and size yet?

Sandra said...

Eve, they can reach sizes in excess of 20cm and their life expectancy is up to 80 years or more. They might outlive me!

Elda said...

so who's going to take care of them ... ehm ... after?

Sandra said...

How interesting. Their shells are beautiful and I can see how they could captivate you. Too bad they don't mow the lawn though!

Sandra said...

Elda, I'll give them to Alice:)

Elda said...

it's a great idea, sandra! :) and i'm moved ...

Louise said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog, Sandra. I think I'll keep the moss on the concrete! I have been browsing around your blog. Love the two land turtles! And, I'm always thrilled to find another animal lover. I'll be stopping here often.

Melody said...

How big they've gotten... and such lush green grass! I think you should lay down in the grass and get a nice close up of them coming at you, see we can see them smile!! :) (aren't i just full of good ideas?)

Diary From Africa said...

Thank you for visiting my blog today, I'm happy to have found yours & see that you are an animal lover, too - bless you for all the animals you have helped and continue to help -the world needs more people like you :)

Carla said...

My, they've grown so much in just a short time! You're right, how could you resist such cute babies? :)

Christina said...

Look how big they are getting!

Lori Skoog said...

I love Ginger and Fred along with all the other photographs of things I have been missing. Beautiful flower shots!

My Farmhouse Kitchen said...

i LOVE LOVE LOVE it here....animal LOVE

i loved what you said about hoping we all go to the same heaven....

sending love,
kary
xxx

Heart of a Cowgirl said...

Oh wow, they are growing like weeds! We have 5 "baby" desert tortoises (they are 3 years old now and growing, too).

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...