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Box Turtle Enclosure: Progression Thread

Add Them to My Honey Do List!!

I am SOLD! They are beautiful and thank you for the step by step how to! It is much appreciated! I am a do-it-yourselfer too. I wanted a very naturalistic kind of stone patio but I have only seen slate which has to be installed over a concrete slab because it is such a fragile/breakable stone. Our deck out back is so old (was here when we bought the house) we tried to refinish it as best we could but I think it just looks a mess. I would like to rip it up and install these! They arent a bad price for their size! They cover a good size area each. EP Henry pavers are smaller and will run you out of house and home to buy/install. Besides they dont have that natural shape, they are all different size squares/rectangles.

I am doing my bathroom right now but maybe when I am finished that I can add the patio to my husbands honey do list!! I can hear how happy he will be now! LMAO :argue:
 
Ill Just Add Them to My Husbands Honey Do List! LOL

I am SOLD! They are beautiful and thank you for the step by step how to! It is much appreciated! I am a do-it-yourselfer too. I wanted a very naturalistic kind of stone patio but I have only seen slate which has to be installed over a concrete slab because it is such a fragile/breakable stone. The slab is expensive not to mention doubling that price to install slate over top of it!Our deck out back is so old (was here when we bought the house but wasnt maintained properly) we tried to refinish it as best we could but I think it just looks a mess. I would like to rip it up and install these! They arent a bad price for their size! They cover a good size area each. EP Henry pavers are smaller and will run you out of house and home to buy/install. Besides they dont have that natural shape, they are all different size squares/rectangles.

I am refacing my bathroom right now but maybe when I am finished that I can add the patio to my husbands honey do list!! I can hear how happy he'll be to hear the great news! LOL :argue:

Hey, can I ask approx. what size that patio is in that link for Inez's birthday? Im trying to estimate the cost for my patio. I have a 16 x 20 deck right now...
 
That patio is about 12 or 13 feet by 4.5 feet- I've added on to it since then so I don't know exactly. A group of eight stones makes a rough square about 42" x 36".

Come to think of it, that tortoise pen is 16' roughly. So that gives you a better idea. I measured the 4.5 feet wide, though.
 
Solar Fountain

I set up the solar fountain today. It is so powerful it shoots the water out of the pond, so I have to have the fountain head underwater.
 

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The solar panel is massive- I haven't figured out a creative way to mount it yet. It's 17 watts. It doesn't have a battery pack (yet) so it only works when the sun is out. When a cloud goes by, you can tell the difference, though it doesn't stop completely. I have to find out about the battery pack. Although I'm a little upset with the company, Silicon Solar, because after waiting for it since April, I sent an e-mail to cancel my order, so they promptly shipped it without confirming that with me, which caused my credit card to go over the limit, so I got charged for that...Then I discovered that I had to do some assembly of the little box and wires and connections for the pump- why wouldn't it come already assembled? Oh well, it's working great.
 

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Here's another view. I'm soaking wet from sitting out there playing with the different fountain heads to pick the one with the best sound. Mr. Fish is not on now- he's for putting water into the pond, which I typically do in the evening. When the drip irrigation for the whole Fort Tort/Terra Pen area is on, the fish fills the pond, too.
 

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Wow, I can't believe you had to wait so long for your solar pump. I'll make a mental note to steer clear of Silicon Solar when I build my Japanese koi pond next year. :) Thanks for heads-up, Nanci.
 
Solar pumps are VERY expensive. Oase makes a line of them, including a Solar Safe that stores the energy to use during the night. It was way out of my price range considering I just wanted a little fountain. You can find small pumps right around $100, but I wanted a panel with a nice long warranty (10 years). I was able to find this particular panel in two places, and Silicon Solar was the one who supposedly had it in stock. They probably just lost track of me being on backorder, but they still should have checked with me before sending it out. When you do your pond, ask me how well this one has done for a year.
 
I certainly will, Nanci. My pond is going to be pretty big, so I'll need a serious pump and serious filtration. I plan on building my own filter, since buying one is ridiculously expensive. You can pretty much bet that I'll be in touch with you throughout the process. hehehe. :)
 
Why can't I delete a duplicate message? I will use this opportunity to tell you I have FROGS in the backyard, first time ever! I can hear them singing!
 
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Well, this is what I came up with for mounting it. It should be at more of an angle, but it's working well like this and I don't want it sticking out more. Actually, it should be standing up the long way, at a 45 degree angle. I didn't have a safe place to do that, though.
 

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I put up a couple trellises at the end of the deck to make it more of a room. I'm thinking of growing passion flowers on the trellises.
 

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On the right is a Majesty Palm, and on the left a white Bird Of Paradise. I need a little glass house now! I put them in pots so they'd be taller and so I could bring them inside if there was a freeze. Of course they have their own drip sprinklers. The trellises are relly pretty- they have little birds on them.
 

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Nanci, I can't believe what an awesome job you have done with your back yard habitat! You are one industrious woman!! My hats off to you.

Hope some day your able to take pics of the frogs and other wildlife that has inhabited your ponds and pens. Thanks for taking the time to share this all with us.

Again, it looks AWESOME!
 
Ohhh yes, I am always looking forward to what you do next...:) Thanks for sharing with us as it is making me put smile on my face and also motiving me to do something like that.. when I have my new place that is...

My sister and her husband might be moving to Florida soon... not sure what area, but when/if they do, I would like to come visit them and also visit you and if I could sit in your lovely garden, I will be in heaven....... I will bring the drink of your choice.. if that is okay with you...*does not have to be alchohol.. special ice tea or something like that would do too.. :)

Cheers,
Rebecca
 
Visitors are always welcome!

Here's a picture of a mystery lizard. He's the biggest one out there. I always bump into him accidentally and we have a sort of stand off. I don't want to scare him.
 

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And here's an anole out at Fort Tort. I took his picture the day Cherry went swimming. I had this thought, only for a second, I swear, "What would happen if I set Cherry down on the fence and she saw the lizard?" Um, not a good idea.
 

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Dragonfly nymph (eating moult?) I love these guys.
 

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