Welcome to Twisted Tree Nursery! We are the creators of DinoSoil and currently parents to 13 rescue tortoises located in beautiful Pala, CA. It all started with Jimmy and Johnny, our Sulcata tortoise brothers. We rescued them out of Romona, CA and have never looked back. Simultaneous with the increasing animal fleet came the birth of DinoSoil. We found that soil and tortoise dung actually have quite the symbiotic relationship. Our tortoises were pooping out gold nuggets of nutrients that worked perfectly with making the most top notch soil a plant could ask for. How lucky are we for this synchronicity. Not only can we provide a beautiful hand crafted American made product from our backyard but we are able to put the proceeds back into our tortoise rescue as we continue to grow and prosper. Thank you for your love and support! We appreciate you. 
Jimmy
One of our founding fathers after the passing of his previous owner. He is the more introverted of the two brothers. He prefers to sit back and let his brother, Johnny, shine as the socialite as he soaks in wisdom with each passing sun. He is our Dumbledore of the tortoises with a soul that goes for miles upon miles. Jimmy is currently the ripe age of 27. The best years are yet to come.
Johnny
Our house favorite and often the favorite of our visitors. He’ll charm the pants off of your mother-in-law. Loves to yard sale his limbs in the morning sun and an afternoon snack stacked with red bell peppers. He is also our highest producer of our golden dung nuggets and often relieves himself of poo the size of a human head. All around fantastic founding father representative and dipole to his brother Jimmy.
Freddy
Our boy, he has an insatiable appetite for food and fighting. He’s like your drunk uncle that you always have to bail out of jail for bar fights. He’s the type of man that serves himself first and potentially has mommy issues along with a few divorces. Life before us, as far as we know, was spent in a backyard near a lake which led to shell rot. In addition, he has a benign growth on his face that we say just gives him more personality. Look into his eyes and the growth fades away. Our drunk uncle of a tortoise is now thriving with a healthy shell, diet and attitude for life.
Danger
Our resident badass. He was abandoned in the night at a tortoise rescue with writing on his shell and an eff-you attitude. He’ll take a fool out right at the ankles if you look at him wrong. However, he may have a tough shelled exterior, on the inside he just wants to be loved. Since Danger feels safe in his new home at Twisted Tree, he enjoys sleeping in and eating watermelon from hand. We try and honor his inner child as much as possible since he most likely did not have a pleasant childhood. You are safe and loved now Danger, forever and always.
Jeff
The elder, the shy one, the green eyed beauty. He is currently approaching his 50th birthday and weighs 220 lbs. In retirement he enjoys watching the world go by rather than being all up in the mix. Most of his energy has been creating his forever home that we refer to as his condo. He is a man of few words and loves watching golf on Sundays and will tell you his thoughts on how you should BBQ meat and what makes a man and a solid pair of comfortable all white New Balances. He most definitely does not understand the youths these days. We sit and listen to him ramble because when he speaks, it is so few and far between. We love you Daddy Jeff.
Speedy
Quick on her feet she often passes up the food she’s going so fast. Loves to do hot laps around her enclosure to stay in shape. She’s always trying to catch the attention of her boyfriend, Prince, that she shares a wall with. Maybe with age she will begin to realize that love is not about beauty but rather it is about a deeper connection. She is the mean girl, the Regina George, of our group of ladies on the property and is definitely a head turner with the males.
Speedy has since mothered 14 baby tortoise hatchlings due to an escapee encounter by Mr. Prince formally known as Queenie.
Prince
Formally known as Queenie before we found him listening to Barry White and engaging in adult activities with his now separated neighbor; Speedy, led to us finding out real quick that he is indeed a “he” and not a “she.” Prince has since given up on women after being nagged over the years for coming home too late after a night out with the boys smelling like bubblegum covered with glitter. Now he prefers the company of a tortoise shaped rock. We will soon be installing a black leather couch to his enclosure to complete his bachelor pad look.
Prince has since fathered 14 baby tortoise hatchlings since he partook in his adult activities.
Catalina
The youngest of our Sulcata Tortoises. She is still finding her identity and is often dressing like and trying to act like her older sister, Speedy. We think with time she will come out of her shell and blossom into the most amazing, smart, unique young lady. She wears sneakers and Speedy is the cheer captain while Catalina is in the bleachers dreaming about the day when you wake up and find that what you’re looking for has been here the whole time -Taylor Swift.
Butters
Unearthed by the jaws of a dog, Butters took his first breath in between the teeth of one of our pups that had mistaken him for a toy. Luckily, we found him shortly after and have placed him in his very own indoor sanctuary where he frequently joins us for happy hour. We believe Butter’s dangerous start has instilled in him a need for adrenaline in the best way. He has truly turned his trauma into a positive twist by constantly seeking adventure such as crushing it down the white water rapids after a heavy rain on the farm and riding his donkey through the canyons of our backyard.
Ricky
Mr.Romance himself. He has an affinity for vintage red wine and knows how to smooth talk the ladies with his Italian accent. He enjoys silk sheets, long walks on the beach and the sound of shoelaces rubbing together. He is the life of the party and never misses an event with us. Catch him on your local hinge, bumble and tender profiles. Give our boy a swipe and we promise you won’t regret it, he’ll give you a night to remember.
Matilda
The matriarch, the glue that kept the family together, the beloved family tortoise. Matilda had a charmed life living like a beautiful fairy in the flower bed of grandma’s house. Unfortunately, when granny passed away Matilda’s family decided to give her the next best life they could offer her by bringing her to the Twisted Tree Tortoise Sanctuary. We may not be sweet nana’s garden nook but we hope to provide her with a wonderfully beautiful second half of her life.
Sonora
When fall hits she is the first in line at Starbucks for her Pumpkin Spiced Latte in her Lulu Lemons and Ugg Boots. She enjoys interior design. However, she is not very good at it and often has to be rescued during a storm because her home build has failed her. This has happened on multiple occasions. It usually ends in an indoor spa day and we’re starting to think that she may be doing it on purpose. Regardless, this is our favorite basic tortoise girl west of the Mississippi and wouldn’t have her any other way.
Mr. Tortoise
When fall hits she is the first in line at Starbucks for her Pumpkin Spiced Latte in her Lulu Lemons and Ugg Boots. She enjoys interior design. However, she is not very good at it and often has to be rescued during a storm because her home build has failed her. This has happened on multiple occasions. It usually ends in an indoor spa day and we’re starting to think that she may be doing it on purpose. Regardless, this is our favorite basic tortoise girl west of the Mississippi and wouldn’t have her any other way.
Mr. T
The ultimate chiller, he is also a desert tortoise and keeps a close watch on the three party girls in his enclosure. He is the Godfather, the daddy, the boss man. His favorite activity is soaking in his pool and eating hand fed strawberries.
Update on Mr. T, he sadly passed away in his sleep in 2021. He will be forever in our hearts.
