Red-eared Slider lays eggs in flowerbed

Observing something in nature for the first time is always a thrill. This turtle (obviously a mature female) came up from Mary's Creek and found just the right spot in our backyard flowerbed to lay her eggs. First photo was taken while she was still in the process of laying(just before church this morning) and the second photo was taken upon our return to the house. Notice how well she has covered up the spot where she nested. That in itself is amazing. We would have never known that she had been there unless we had seen her earlier. I plan to encircle this spot with a chicken wire cage to keep the varmints out and wait for the hatchlings. I looked it up and it takes 60-80 days for them to hatch. Red-eared sliders usually lay between 20-30 eggs.

A couple of days later.......

Ten days later, Granddaughter Cora (the artist) makes Turtle nesting sign