GREEN SPRING GARDENS CONTINUED - DUCKS, GEESE AND TURTLES - MONDAY, APRIL 2ND, 2021

 We always start off at the pond area when we go to this garden.  We have seen Great Blue Herons at the first pond, but there were only a pair of Canada Geese today.  

Two ladies were enjoying our usual bench so we walked to the gazebo and found it empty.  We sat there for about ten minutes.  

The Turtles were out.

I have noticed several times how turtles tend to stretch their back claws out.  Curious I looked on line to find out why.

At this website I found the following explanation.

"Turtles are cold-blooded animals, so they cannot control their body temperature internally. The only way they have to raise their body temperature is to bask to absorb warmth and vital UV rays. While heat is radiated to their bodies from their shells, they often stretch out their legs to collect additional heat.

Usually, their feet completely widen out at the same time to increase the surface area even more. They are able to engage in thermoregulation and their metabolism functions become elevated. As a result, the efficiency of their immune and digestive systems increases. Another benefit is that they absorb important UVB rays in sunlight. UVB rays become metabolized into vitamin D3 which is necessary to process calcium.

– Dick Brewer"There were ducks and geese in the second pond but they weren't paying much attention to each other

As we walked on I noticed new shoots growing.  Looking at my plant app "Picture This", it identified the leaves as coming from an American beech tree.  Here's a poem I found in the description, one of the many reasons I enjoy this app.  It will give you a poem about a certain flower, plant or tree, if available.

"I feel I'm growing old Mary, 

But few now walk with me,

Or sit and talk where many met,

Beneath the old beech tree."

~David Mills~

A good reminder to be nice to everyone we meet as we walk through the garden, and through life for that matter.

Here is the Cardinal I shared in this post.

More next time, when we get to the top of the hill.

Enjoy your day and thank you for visiting.