These community gardens are on NPS owned land in Alexandria Va. adjacent to the Potomac River. Over the years the garden has been visited by different types of wildlife including foxes, groundhogs, raccoons, and deer. Currently a groundhog resides on the property but it remains elusive and quick to scatter when humans are present. Not so this box turtle. Box turtles are becoming scarce in developed areas. This one was scouting the perimeter of my garden plot looking for a way in to the tomatoes. This photo shows the turtle in great detail. One can even see the numerous striations on the shell. I love box turtles.
