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Tort Pen Step Six: Let The Planting Begin!!

Nanci

Nanci

Alien Lover
Boy do I hate digging trenches. Especially 100 foot trenches. Especially when I spent the previous night vomiting, with a 101F fever. But- I had to get it done, so I put in an hour at 11AM, and then finished it off from 5PM on. Got the hose buried today. I even made the T inside the pen and have one side run, but need more hose now. Having drip irrigation is _so_ worth the effort, though.
 

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The front of the burrow. I found some really nice Chinese Fan Palms for the entrance.
 

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The pond area. I would have planted it all, but I am considering putting a different, bigger tree in the corner, and putting the fig somewhere else.
 

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The back of the burrow. I need more stuff. It's mostly purslane, which they will eat. It has beautiful flowers after it is done being angry about being transplanted. I had to put cypress mulch down, because the run off was so bad when I watered. They will enjoy eating that... :shrugs:
 

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Close up of the entrance, and Koko. I dug a chunk of nice sod from somehwere else and put it over the front, again hoping to control runoff. Even though it didn't get wet inside with natural rain, it got some dripping in when I watered. I will have to correct that.
 

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Last, and most important, the new tortoise viewing bench!!

Thanks for looking!

Nanci
 

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I can't wait to check the burrow temps tomorrow! It's going to be in the upper 90's again. Unplanted, it was cooler than the inside of my house with AC on.

Nanci
 
Man you have put so much effort into this. It looks absolutely awesome!

Do you think I will ever have the honor of sitting in that tortoise viewing bench? :rolleyes: That is a great addition, BTW!!!
 
Dave- I certainly hope so!

Thanks, Dave and Stephanie. If only I had unlimited money to put into it. I just have to go a little bit at a time and work as much OT as I can get my hands on.

I was sitting outside right now, now that it's a balmy 85 at 9PM...Just me and (pigeon) Dill, reading a book, drinking a glass of wine- the pen looks so much nicer now that it has some green in it. I think if I put a potted palm at either end of the bench, it will be perfect. Some days I love my life.

Nanci
 
Thanks Susan! I can't believe I am going to say this, but I think I need a second burrow. I think I want to put another burrow in the corner where the pond was going to go, and move the pond area into the NE corner...OMG. I just worry that they will get too big, and not be able to fit in one. I'm going to have to do it, dang it!!

Nanci
 
Nanci,
Looks fantastic, now for the pond are you going to add a fountain or add some bog plants or a water lily? now that would rock. If you feel the need to add fish, I would add the Florida local fish, Gambusia Affinis aka the mosquito fish. This should help you not have any mosquito larva in your water. Actually, I probably would add fish to keep down the pesky mosquitoes down. Another fun fish I would add is the dwarf livebearer or least killie also found in local Florida water ways.
 
Wow Nanci, that Tort Fort is looking better every week! :cheers: It's pretty big too, are there more Torts on the way? If you are planning on getting a couple different species, I know a place in Sarasota.... :D
 
nanci all i can say is wow this is unreal like thats the best tortoise home ive ever ever seen you should be really proud of yourself :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
Noel
 
Sweet! Lookin' better then ever Nanci! Didn't recognize the burrow in that first pic for all the lovely plants. I think I'm jealous of your torts new fort...


Jenn
 
tricksterpup said:
Nanci,
Looks fantastic, now for the pond are you going to add a fountain or add some bog plants or a water lily? now that would rock. If you feel the need to add fish, I would add the Florida local fish, Gambusia Affinis aka the mosquito fish. This should help you not have any mosquito larva in your water. Actually, I probably would add fish to keep down the pesky mosquitoes down. Another fun fish I would add is the dwarf livebearer or least killie also found in local Florida water ways.
Click to expand...

Cool ideas! But the pond has to be super shallow- they don't swim at all. So that pond form will be filled to within an inch of the top with large stones. Mostly, it's going to be there for birds.

Killies are so cool though! I want a "real" pond some day.

Nanci
 
CaptBogart said:
Wow Nanci, that Tort Fort is looking better every week! :cheers: It's pretty big too, are there more Torts on the way? If you are planning on getting a couple different species, I know a place in Sarasota.... :D
Click to expand...

Really, Joe, it's just minimal size. I wish it was at least four times that big. But I think it will be adequate. It's so fun to work on, too- now that I'm getting to the planting part. I'm even kind of excited about the second burrow, now.

Nanci
 
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