05/21/2026
🐢 🌱 Look at Our Amazing Plants!! 🌱 🪴
It’s hard to believe every single plant in these photos came from our friend Steve Stroupe . Raising turtles and other reptiles outdoors goes hand in hand with loving and learning about plants. Plants are often the key to clean water and they also make things look beautiful, and can be a food source. My long‑term goal for our facility is a mix of a botanical garden and a home for turtles and tortoises. Every year we gain more plants, and it’s so much fun not only to see them but to learn how to care for them and even propagate more.
Our oldest son has shown a real passion for plants, mainly bog and carnivorous species. Just as my parents encouraged me to follow my passion for reptiles, I hope to do the same for him with plants, or whatever may come in the future. If you ever visit and he’s here “working,” he would love nothing more than to show you his garden and talk about them as much as he can.
We can’t thank Steve enough for all his help, and for the beauty he’s added to this place. Not only does he have vast plant knowledge, he’s the reason our Rescue Turtle River was completed last year, and I don’t think we’ve shared this yet. We were running a fundraiser that wasn’t going well, after weeks of trying to reach our goal so we could continue taking in more sliders, we hadn’t even reached a fraction of the goal and were about to throw in the towel. Then I saw someone I’d never met or seen, Steve, tag Greg Wittstock the Pond Guy from Aquascape Inc. whom I’ve admired for years for building beautiful ponds, and being involved with other reptile videos. Greg immediately reached out and completely donated all the materials needed to build the new Rescue Turtle River, plus extra that has helped us build more. I’m not saying we wouldn’t exist without that one tag, but I know for a fact we wouldn’t be anywhere near where we are today without it, and so many turtles would be in horrible situations. Words aren’t enough, thank you so much, Steve and Greg. I can’t wait to keep doing what I love, and who knows, maybe I’ll meet Greg Wittstock one day!
