First and most important (and a week late), #HappyNewYear #AndyTheTortoise who came out of brumation a week ago today. He’d started it at the end of October. Was too busy to make announcement.

In the last 3 years, I always prolong his brumation artificially (with nightly coolings) till May 1, for optimal heat. This year, however, I extended by an additional week due to poor weather and my lack of readiness… So he was in brumation 6 months and 1 week! Likely his longest, because even in Northern California he normally woke up mid-April!

But he is up now, and doing very well.
Happy 104th year, Andy!!! You rock! I'm so happy to have you!!

The cutting board contains his typical meal at the beginning of the season: From bottom to top: Lettuce (here, red leaf), chopped up roma tomatoes on a leaf of lettuce, and above on chopped dendelion on the left and chopped broccoli florets on the right. I also plant an assortment of plants which I will show in a different toot.

#GopherusAgassizii #CaliforniaDesertTortoise #EndangeredSpecies #Reptiles #Tortoises