Tag Archives: Gretchen Quarterman

Francine the Florida Softshell Turtle

Francine out for a walk between the creek and the house:

Nose

Species Profile: Florida Softshell (Apalone ferox) | SREL Herpetology

Like other softshells, the Florida softshell turtle (Apalone ferox) is a large, flat turtle with skin covering its shell (resembling a pancake). It is the bulkiest of the softshell turtles but inhabits the smallest range. It varies in size with males measuring from 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) and females measuring double that at 11-24 inches (28-61 cm). Adults are usually colored by a dark brown to brownish-gray with dark spots. Also there are usually small dark bumps on the carapace. In juveniles these dark bumps on the carapace are much more easily seen, as they are usually lighter in color than the adults. The carapace of the Florida softshell is covered with longitudinal rows of tubercles that resemble ridges in younger turtles but are less evident in larger turtles. In adult turtles the plastron of the shell usually extends farther than the carapace.
Continue reading

Purple okra flower and pod

Update: That was actually a green okra. Here’s a real purple okra and here are purple, orange, and green compared.
A purple okra! Just you wait, orange okra, in a day or so we’ll see who’s purple.

A purple okra!

Purple okra flower:

Continue reading

Orange Okra almost ready

This is the same orange okra pod seen picked a couple days later:

Orange Okra
Picture by John S. Quarterman for Okra Paradise Farms,
Lowndes County, Georgia, 17 June 2013.

We’re still waiting for more to get ready. Picking plenty of green okra meanwhile.

-jsq