20 year ponding anniversary present

[karen J]

Wow, in 20 years of ponding I have never experienced this. Goes to show there's always something to look forward to when you go visit the pond.

I was looking at my little Swamp pond, wanting to pull out some Frogbit. It grows so much it will take over everything. That was when I noticed the Frog Eggs. So I look at the eggs, then notice the holes in the leaves. Either I've got some big snails, or that is not snail damage.
Then I found him.   In 20 years I've never had a volunteer visitor like this.



Can you see him?




Tossing in some more pics. I'm in love with the Marestail this year, it's crowding out everything else. 



In the big pond, Mayla is blooming non stop



So, I think it's a little Painted turtle. It's about the size of a silver dollar. I want to catch him and take a couple of decent photos, but he's pretty quick in the water! I hope he doesn't get eaten.
 

[EagleEye]

Karen,
that's pretty cool for sure . I can't keep anything but fish. One year I brought home a bunch of small frogs from outside of town and managed to keep some of them around for the year.
Never a turtle though.
He makes a nice addition to your pond.
BTW, your pond / plantings look fantastic

Steve

[joeyb5980]

A very neat surprise!  And I love Mare's tail too!  It looks like yours is really doing great!  Mayla is gorgeous too!   

[miguynmkoi]

Happy Ponding Anniversary!  You have beautiful plants in your pond.  The surprises are fascinating and bountiful!   

[Ruthie]

Aww!  He's a cutie!  I love mare's tail...this is my first year growing it.  (I hope I don't kill it ) 

Mayla is amazing

[Kat]

Cute surprise & your plants look great 

[karen J]

Thanks for the nice comments. I don't know where this little fella came from, he just showed up. I've been taking every spare moment to run out there and look at him (her). Still no decent pics, though. I read today that when they hatch, they are completely independent, and can travel up to 200 meters to find their new home. 

I've observed that he is quite omnivorous, eating water bugs, plants, whatever strikes his fancy.

I hope he stays.

[Bonnie]

Well Happy Pondversary Karen!

Cute little guy.. DD brought me two about that size last summer and I put them in the lilypond but they didn't stay long.

Your Mayla and Mare's Tail is fab!

[bunny56lbc]

How cool is that ! What a nice surprise !
Happy 20th. Ponding Anniversary !

bonnie

[tinkster]

Happy anniversary and I hope he stays hes sooo cute!  Love the lily and mares tail.  I have a mayla that I am waiting to see her first bloom

tinkster

[Indiana Karen]

I hope he sticks around for you.
When we first put our pond in, we tried a couple painted turtles.  Each time they would swim directly to the waterfalls and we would never see them again.

Karen

[Rick]

Nice Goldies 

[Julles]

That first picture - are those frog's eggs?  They're so HUGE!  Down here, our toad eggs are no bigger than the head of a pin, if that.  What kind of frogs do you have there?

Your turtle, you should be able to teach him to eat fish food, and he'll come out every time you approach the pond.  Eventually, he'll become less shy.  And - if he's full of food provided by you, he may leave your plants alone.

Which pic has the frogbit plant in it?  I'm not familiar with that one.

[SueSTx]

Cute little turtle.

My Mayla sent up one bloom...I was gone on vacation.  It has another small bud.

I've added Marestail to my gotta have list.

[karen J]

Well, I got a pic that's a little bit better. Still had to use the zoom though.



Julles, the Frogbit is that plant in the picture that has leaves like a Water Lily. I notice you said in another thread that you have Snowflake. This is a lot like Snowflake only more invasive. It has yellow flowers. The turtle really likes it.

SueSTx, That stinks to be on vacation for a first bloom. Hopefully the next one will be soon.

Rick, Thanks. They're just mutts.

Indi Karen, My neighbor once put a turtle in my pond, but it only stayed about a half hour.

Thanks Bunny, Bonnie, & Tinkster.