Spring is in full bloom and attention has turned to Lawrence of Arabia, our desert tortoise. We quietly welcomed her when she came out of her five-and-a-half-month-long hibernation on March 22. Like clockwork, she usually emerges earlier in the month, but perhaps the week-long cold spell we had the few weeks before confused her.
Or maybe she was hoping for the pandemic to be over.
She is out in full force now, after her typically slow awakening: First, she comes out of the closet for a little while, then returns to her dark corner for another few days. Then she comes out again for longer periods walking around the house. That’s when I put her in a shallow pool of water in the tub so that she can start hydrating again and waking up her organs.
It was time to remind the gardener not to trim the ivy at the bottom as Lawrence takes refuge underneath the leafy canopy when she’s ready to snooze. And after reacquainting herself with three den options, she found her way down “Lawrence’s Alley” to her favorite one that stays cool on the hottest summer days.
Yesterday, Louie took a long walk and returned with yellow dandelion flowers that he had picked for Lawrence. From his pocket he brought out a handful for me to put in Lawrence’s enclosed yard, which we keep as a natural habitat. We don’t pull the dry weeds because they are nutritious for Lawrence – and which we supplement with salads of greens like carrot tops, spinach, mulberry leaves, grass and more. Rose petals, also on her food list, are her favorite.
I looked at last year’s photos when Lawrence woke up. Her yard was green and lush following lots of rain. This year, though, drought conditions have left the yard dry.
But Lawrence can weather it – she’s a desert tortoise!
This is your country, and it’s up to you to save it.” – English translation of a saying in Taiwan
Washing Hands + Wearing a Mask + Social Distancing = Saving Lives