Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Plants in “G” – “H” – and “I”
They were harder to come up with than I thought they’d be, but I found a few.
“G” is for Geranium, of the ‘garden variety’ sort. An annual, ubiquitous, and easy to please.
I planted some in my flower box this year and love the colors. It doesn’t ask for much.
For “H” I would love to show you Honeysuckle. Years ago, I had a thriving vine, full of fragrant flowers but it got disturbed when a new fence was put in and has failed to produce any flowers since!
So, I will show you Hydrangeas, a new one I planted this year in a whiskey barrel. I’m hoping it survives.
I especially love them in the fall when they look a bit worn.
And how about the general category of Herbs? I have found them to be the easiest plants to grow in my garden for color, fragrance, and in some cases, culinary use. (And yes, you’ll see more Geraniums, in the left corner, Cranesbill.)
Finally we come to “I” for Ivy of the English Variety. To call it a vigorous climber is an understatement, but honestly it has served me well. It fills up a shady corner on our lot and was there when we bought our house. It’s now considered a noxious weed by Washington State, and no longer available for sale.
Benji likes the shade and cover it provides him.
It used to adorn grand, old, brick buildings (think, ‘Ivy League’) but not anymore. Those I’ve seen shorn of the ivy (e.g. the Empress Hotel in Victoria) look naked to me without it.
Progress, I guess.
Sharing with The Flower Hour.
~ Susanne
Turtles with Attitude, Not to Mention Claws
While walking at Coulon Park today, I paused to watch the turtles, perhaps they watched me too.
And though I’ve stopped many, many times before, I never saw their claws so clearly, in fact, I didn’t know they had them.
But there you go.
~ Susanne
Happy Caturday in the Garden with Benji
I saw Benji sitting in the grass and went out with my camera. He was faster than I and was already headed to join me.
I sat down at the table with my water, only moving my cup when Benji thought it was for him. I think I retrieved it in time. It doesn’t always happen. This morning, he woke me out of a sound sleep when he knocked over my water on the nightstand. (I didn’t have it closed securely. My bad, right?)
While I sat, he took his afternoon bath, which for some reason always charms me.
I finally noticed the potted plant on the table was at risk and moved it before he did.
I left him to his own devices, to take a few pictures of flowers in bloom,
and the bees hard at work on the lavender.
It was all good.
Happy Caturday from Susanne and Benji! 🙂
Killdeer Display – Sorry to Disturb You
Last week I was walking down a deserted road next to the WAAAM for a closer look at Mt. Hood
when I saw a Killdeer by the side of the road put on quite a display.
I’m not exactly sure who the show was for. Was it a mating call? Another Killdeer did show up shortly thereafter. Or was I the intruder, to be driven away from a nest in the grass?
“The parents use various methods to distract predators during the breeding season. One method is the “broken-wing display”, also known as “injury feigning”. Before displaying, it usually runs from its nest, making alarm calls and other disturbances. When the bird has the attention of the predator, the former turns its tail towards the latter, displaying the threatening orange color of the rump. It then crouches, droops its wings, and lowers its tail, which is more common for them.” Wikipedia, Killdeer
So sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you. Please carry on.
~ Susanne
Antique Cars and Planes at WAAAM – and Two Mountains!
Last weekend we stopped by the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum, in the most unlikely of places, the small town of Hood River on the scenic Columbia River Gorge.
It has to compete with one of the most scenic places in the USA, but it does a good job, so I thought the groups of cars and planes would work well for this week’s Sunday Stills Challenge.
It’s one of my husband’s favorite museums, so we’ve been there many times, but this was the first time we were also treated to a car show outside.
Inside was a wonderful assortment of cars and planes, I’ll only share a few.
including my favorite car, a melon colored Kaiser,
and a Schmitt which I swear was smiling at me!
As much as I enjoyed the museum, I couldn’t help but notice Mt. Hood behind,
And great views of Mt. Adams on the other side of the river, in front.
Location, location, location!
More pictures to come from our trip to the Columbia Gorge!
~ Susanne
Whatcha Doin, Benji?
“Oh, hi, Sue. I found the supplies. Thanks, I appreciate it.”
“Only I could use some help getting into the snacks.”
Happy Caturday from Susanne and Benji! 😺😺
Stalking the Hummingbirds
Yes, I admit it. I’m a stalker of birds.
It had been a while, so I went into the shed and hid, leaving the door open a crack, hoping a hummingbird might land on the feeders nearby.
Within minutes a handsome male Anna’s hummingbird showed up, and I had my camera at the ready.
It was my lucky day.
~ Susanne
“D” is for Daylilies – and Danger to Cats
When I first heard that daylilies only blossom for one day, I thought, why bother?
But then I saw them in mass, each bud seeming to wait their turn for glory.
Beautiful together, and close up too, though I may have gotten carried away.
It’s a beautiful flower but I don’t have any in my garden; and thankfully, there are none nearby. Why?
They’re extremely toxic to cats.
Even though not true lilies (they belong to the genus Hemerocallis, a perennial that grows in clumps from tuberous roots) they’re just as dangerous to cats as true lilies are.
According to PetMD : “Two species of toxic lilies are especially dangerous: true lilies (Lilium species) and daylilies (Hemerocallis species), which can both cause kidney failure in cats.
While the exact toxin has not been identified, exposure to any part of the plant can cause sudden kidney failure, neurological signs, and other serious problems in cats.
Ingesting just small pieces of the petals, leaves, or even the pollen or water in the vase can result in severe, potentially irreversible and fatal kidney failure.”
Wow. I didn’t know how toxic, until I did the research for this post.
So now you know; if you have cats, please don’t have daylilies in your garden.
Enjoy them, when you’re about and about, like I do.
Sharing my ‘D’ flower with The Flower Hour.
~ Susanne
Looking for Red, White, and Blue midst the Gold
I went walking at Soos Creek Botanical Garden yesterday and found a lot of gold, especially in the Carlmas Long Border.
But I was looking for red, white, and blue and found it scattered about in the form of brilliant red roses,
white hydrangeas,
daisies,
and morning glory.
I found more white near the pond, surrounded by green and a touch of blue,
more blue in the hydrangeas,
and if you stretch it a bit on the spectrum, shades of blue below.
Sharing with The #Flower Hour.
~ Susanne
Great Blue Herons and Bald Eagles – at Coulon Park
I was thrilled to find a bonanza of big birds on my walk at Coulon Park this week! I saw three Great Blue Herons, standing tall, patient and stoic.
And the skies were filled with Bald Eagles!
I counted six over head at one time, many juveniles, though this adult was content to stay perched below on a piling,
singing up a storm.
Which is bigger? Depends on how you measure. Great Blue Herons are taller at 3 – 4 feet, while Bald Eagles are heavier and have a greater wingspan, of 7 – 8 feet. Which is best at fishing? My Google search says the Herons have the edge, but while I watched, it was the Eagles.
And I’m reminded of a competition I saw a few years ago, where under the watchful eyes of a Heron,
an Eagle swooped in
and left with a salmon.
Leaving the astonished heron behind, perhaps hoping none of his friends were witnesses.
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 