Well, potential Roxettes, at least! P pointed Roxy out; he’d seen her while he was mowing. She’s usually in a flowerbed, but this time, she was right up by the patio. It was (and still is) hotter than hell, so I figured she was just doing her usual digging in an effort to stay cool(er…there is no cool here at this point in time). I said hi to her, left the grass alone where she was, and went about my business. I went to check on her after I’d finished; it was nearly 9PM because we’d started so late due to the heat. She was still there, so of course, I took a picture.

I’d Miffy-napped twice, so I was very late in going to bed. I was curious to see how deep a hole she’d dug, and, sure that she’d be off hunting snails or insects or something, I went over to look. She was still there, which I found odd. I thought perhaps something was wrong because she was half in and half out of her hole. I took another picture, then went to bed, but not before I started to wonder whether she might be doing something truly cool. I googled a little, then decided to wait until morning to see for sure.

I woke up late-ish, and the first thing I did was go and see whether perhaps Roxy had left us a present. Not only had she done just that, but she was still there, right next to a little spot of neatly tamped-down soil. If a turtle can be said to have an expression–and I choose to think they can–she looks rather proud of herself, I think.

So…now we have the nest of a near-threatened species of box turtle a few inches from the edge of the patio. Not that I would even consider it, but turtle eggs should never be moved except if absolutely necessary, and then only by an expert, because if they are turned, the baby turtles will die. I wonder why? Anyway, I won’t even pick Roxy up, let alone second-guess the nest site chosen by a creature whose relatives have been doing this for millions of years, so I decided to google the best way to protect the potential Roxettes. I had no boards 6″ or 8″ wide, but I’ll get some this week. For now, sandstone slabs will suffice to keep out curious predators. The babies couldn’t get out of this, but it’ll be at least a couple of months before they hatch, and they could even overwinter in their eggs, so it’s okay for now. Ugly as hell, but it’s in the back yard, and it’ll do until I get some boards that I can cut Roxette-doors in, and to which I can staple the hardware cloth securely. I’ll weight the frame down with sandstone, maybe. Don’t know yet, but I definitely want them to survive!