Search found 46 matches

by Oxalis
20 May 2021, 02:02
Forum: News, Announcements and Events
Topic: New Book on Edible Plants of the Midwest (U.S.)
Replies: 1
Views: 11097

New Book on Edible Plants of the Midwest (U.S.)

I just stumbled upon a new book (published 2020, Minnesota Historical Society Press) called "Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants of the Midwest" that tortoise keepers might be interested in. It contains a good deal of nutritional information on a lot of the plants we offer our tortoises, al...
by Oxalis
20 Feb 2021, 05:24
Forum: Questions about Plants
Topic: Are Mosses OK in an Outdoor Enclosure?
Replies: 1
Views: 6440

Are Mosses OK in an Outdoor Enclosure?

Since it's winter and I have a new space for an outdoor tortoise garden, I'm doing some planning. I'm thinking that I may want to cover some spaces with a low-growing plant, like moss or a succulent, to visually break up areas around rocks and other plants. I was looking for something Steve (the tor...
by Oxalis
26 Feb 2020, 06:49
Forum: Questions about Plants
Topic: Cycads
Replies: 0
Views: 9338

Cycads

Hello all! Recently I was browsing the potted plants at the gardening store in the hopes of bringing spring here sooner. I started thinking about the cycad plants, which I call "dinosaur plants," and how they've changed little since the Jurassic. There are quite a few species of cycads (in...
by Oxalis
25 Dec 2019, 19:33
Forum: News, Announcements and Events
Topic: Thank You for All You Do!
Replies: 10
Views: 28716

Re: Thank You for All You Do!

I found this on Google: "Target training is when you teach an animal to touch a predetermined body part to a particular object." Generally you'll use a clicker and treat the animal for positive reinforcement. I've heard that Russians can be trained to do this but I'm thinking it's mostly t...
by Oxalis
25 Dec 2019, 19:06
Forum: Lost/Found Tortoises
Topic: Giant Tortoise Found in Hertfordshire
Replies: 3
Views: 11462

Re: Giant Tortoise Found in Hertfordshire

Happy to get the word out! :D Us librarians are good for something! I sure hope that tort doesn't get lost again.
by Oxalis
20 Nov 2019, 03:08
Forum: News, Announcements and Events
Topic: Thank You for All You Do!
Replies: 10
Views: 28716

Re: Thank You for All You Do!

Nina, I just received your gift in the mail today. Thank you so much!! That is one adorable Xmas card too! I teared up a little knowing you guys are thinking of us! James (the hubby) says thank you and seasons greetings! I'm thinking I may use the observation log to try to target train Steve a littl...
by Oxalis
20 Nov 2019, 02:49
Forum: Lost/Found Tortoises
Topic: Giant Tortoise Found in Hertfordshire
Replies: 3
Views: 11462

Giant Tortoise Found in Hertfordshire

This looks to be from August 2019 but I thought I would post it.

https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/ ... fordshire/
by Oxalis
14 Nov 2019, 03:10
Forum: News, Announcements and Events
Topic: Thank You for All You Do!
Replies: 10
Views: 28716

Re: Thank You for All You Do!

Thanks for the lovely words! I also sent a donation to TTT via Paypal. :D We went out to dinner tonight to celebrate our anniversary! It is very cold here right now (about -5°C), conveniently after receiving about 7 inches of snow a few days ago. It is supposed to warm up this weekend. We've been en...
by Oxalis
13 Nov 2019, 20:19
Forum: News, Announcements and Events
Topic: Thank You for All You Do!
Replies: 10
Views: 28716

Thank You for All You Do!

Today is the 10th anniversary for my little Steve and me. Steve and I wanted to extend our thank-you to everyone at The Tortoise Table, for all your hard work in helping to develop the best possible tortoise diet. We are all very grateful and have enjoyed gardening all these years! I have posted a f...
by Oxalis
09 Jul 2019, 23:16
Forum: Identification of Plants from outside of the UK
Topic: Shrub with Red Leaves and White Flowers
Replies: 6
Views: 14855

Re: Shrub with Red Leaves and White Flowers

I see. Thanks again for all your hard work!! :D You're very much appreciated here in the states!
by Oxalis
05 Jun 2019, 23:35
Forum: Identification of Plants from outside of the UK
Topic: Shrub with Red Leaves and White Flowers
Replies: 6
Views: 14855

Re: Shrub with Red Leaves and White Flowers

Thanks, Lin. I will ask her. It does look like burdock, but most of the burdock leaves I've seen seem to have a darker green tint. If you look closely at the picture I posted, you may be able to see a foot near the bottom right corner, so it looks like a pretty big plant.
by Oxalis
04 Jun 2019, 02:50
Forum: Identification of Plants from outside of the UK
Topic: Shrub with Red Leaves and White Flowers
Replies: 6
Views: 14855

Re: Shrub with Red Leaves and White Flowers

It sure does look like a dwarf purple leaf plum or sandcherry. Thanks so much!!

As I inform my mom of this find, she wonders what this new plant is.
by Oxalis
03 Jun 2019, 23:22
Forum: Questions about Plants
Topic: Is Asimina triloba Safe for Tortoises?
Replies: 5
Views: 8709

Re: Is Asimina triloba Safe for Tortoises?

Lovely! We do adore our monarch butterflies and hummingbirds here in the states! :lol:
by Oxalis
03 Jun 2019, 23:20
Forum: Identification of Plants from outside of the UK
Topic: Shrub with Red Leaves and White Flowers
Replies: 6
Views: 14855

Shrub with Red Leaves and White Flowers

A family member has a shrub with red leaves and white flowers that I'm looking for help identifying. We waited for it to flower this spring in the hope that this would help to ID it. It appears to be an ornamental shrub currently around 5 feet tall. It is currently growing on the west side of the ho...
by Oxalis
03 Jun 2019, 17:12
Forum: Questions about Plants
Topic: Is Asimina triloba Safe for Tortoises?
Replies: 5
Views: 8709

Re: Is Asimina triloba Safe for Tortoises?

Thanks, Nina, and as always, so great to hear from you! Steve's doing well and enjoying the warmer weather. We're still in the same house but the thought of moving to a place with a bigger yard is on our radar. My dream lately has been to have a wildflower prairie in my backyard. I haven't purchased...
by Oxalis
03 Jun 2019, 16:51
Forum: Questions about Plants
Topic: Amelanchier spp.
Replies: 6
Views: 9596

Re: Amelanchier spp.

Glad to hear it! :)
by Oxalis
24 May 2019, 00:00
Forum: Questions about Plants
Topic: Amelanchier spp.
Replies: 6
Views: 9596

Re: Amelanchier spp.

Thanks for the update and info on Amelanchier. :) Hope you are all having a lovely spring -- where has the time gone?!
by Oxalis
12 May 2019, 03:44
Forum: Questions about Plants
Topic: Is Asimina triloba Safe for Tortoises?
Replies: 5
Views: 8709

Is Asimina triloba Safe for Tortoises?

Hello TTT peeps and a very happy spring to you! :) One tree I look forward to getting in my future backyard is a native tree called Pawpaw (Asimina triloba), a member of the custard apple (Annonaceae) family. This is a pretty neat tree, which produces the "largest edible fruit native to America...
by Oxalis
21 Dec 2018, 09:49
Forum: Questions about Plants
Topic: Amelanchier spp.
Replies: 6
Views: 9596

Amelanchier spp.

I noticed serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) isn't in the TTT database, but it is in the rose family and apple tribe so I wondered if the leaves would be suitable as a tortoise treat? We recently acquired a native species of this plant hoping to feed the birds with its fruit. https://en.wikipedia.org/w...
by Oxalis
23 Sep 2018, 00:58
Forum: Questions about Plants
Topic: Any Experience with "Grow Lights"?
Replies: 2
Views: 5674

Any Experience with "Grow Lights"?

Hello, just curious if anyone has had any experience with these red-blue "grow lights" I keep seeing at the hardware store? I have a great space for plants in Steve's room, but it's in a corner away from the window. I can tell these plants just aren't getting enough sunlight. I would consi...
by Oxalis
22 Sep 2018, 22:47
Forum: Questions about Plants
Topic: Trimming Leaves on Spider Plants
Replies: 1
Views: 4658

Trimming Leaves on Spider Plants

Quick question on spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum): I repotted a few from my friend and they went through a bit of transplant shock in the process. The ends of most of the leaves are brown, but the newer growth is green. I thought that they could still take in sunlight from the brown parts of th...
by Oxalis
27 Aug 2018, 13:20
Forum: Questions about Plants
Topic: Callirhoe involucrata (Malvaceae Family)
Replies: 1
Views: 4869

Callirhoe involucrata (Malvaceae Family)

Hello, Lin and Nina! Hope you are doing well! :) I'm curious about a member of the Malvaceae family, Callirhoe involucrata (purple poppy mallow), which is native here in Michigan. The USDA Plants database has a handful of Callirhoe species in the U.S.: https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CAL...
by Oxalis
23 Jun 2018, 16:07
Forum: Identification of Plants from outside of the UK
Topic: Found this weed in the tortoise garden (U.S.)
Replies: 9
Views: 20242

Re: Found this weed in the tortoise garden (U.S.)

Awww, lovely! Thank you to Doris and Dolly! :D Hope the gardening conditions are fantastic this year!
by Oxalis
19 Jun 2018, 01:24
Forum: Identification of Plants from outside of the UK
Topic: Found this weed in the tortoise garden (U.S.)
Replies: 9
Views: 20242

Re: Found this weed in the tortoise garden (U.S.)

Rockin'! Thank you very much for all your help! :D

Steve also says hello in his strange little way!
by Oxalis
17 Jun 2018, 23:28
Forum: Identification of Plants from outside of the UK
Topic: Found this weed in the tortoise garden (U.S.)
Replies: 9
Views: 20242

Re: Found this weed in the tortoise garden (U.S.)

Thank you both for the input; I think you're right on the nose with pennycress! Apologies for not getting a photo of the plant in the ground. I was weeding the tortoise garden first, and the intent to photography came after. Of course, by the time I retrieved in the camera in our summer humidity, th...