For Most Spring Means the Crocus are in Bloom....

Monday, March 7, 2011....


I guess that is true, but for me. For me, it is when the neighborhood cat returns to use my flower bed as her litter box. Nothing says Springtime like opening your front door and inhaling the delightful odors of cat pee.

It really does wonders in facing the world and starting the day - NOT. Instead, it just creates a stinky odor by the entrance of my house and does not do anything to scare away the woodchuck, bunny or deer that come by throughout the gardening season to feast on my veggies. You'd think the cat would serve some purpose by scaring off future animals from wanting to enter my yard and crush my hopes and dreams of having the world's best veggie garden. Unfortunately, she didn't get the memo that she doesn't live here and her owners have a litter box for her use. She also hasn't read Emily Post for cats and realized if you're going to pee in someone's yard it should be out of direct line of said owner's nose AND pee in areas where other animals terrorize the nice homeowner to deter them from wanting to take one step further towards my garden and eating everything I'm trying to grow.

However, this year, I'm prepared. I need no cat pee. I'm armed with the knowledge of cayenne & soap will deter Mr. Woodchuck, Miss Bunny and pack-of-deer from the garden. I will spray as soon as plants are in the ground so my 'friends' know I mean business and go away.

Let's face it. I'm on a mission for a veggie garden this year.

I'm determined and have announced to my husband I will beat the animals. I say it with conviction, and he, just laughs at me. Harsh. But, when I'm eating my yummy heirloom purple tomatoes this year outside, I'll have the last laugh or won't, because I'll need a nose plug because the cat will have recently use the flower to do her business and I'll be trying not to smell cat pee.

Spring Must be Here if the Neighbor's Cat is Using my Garden Bed as its Litter Box...

Monday, March 9, 2009.....

Most people think Spring is around the corner if the Groundhog does not see its shadow on February 2nd, or when you enjoy a weekend of 70 degree weather. I would agree that these events could lead many to thinking Spring is right around the corner. For me, it doesn't.

Spring comes when the neighbor's cat decides it is time to start using the front flower bed as its litter box again.

Why can't it go where it went all winter? Why am I the lucky one to be over powered with the smell of cat pee when I leave my house?

The best part, if there is one, I've caught the cat doing its business and it has acted like I just walked in on him during his most private moment.

Scaring the cat away does nothing and I'm trying to figure out what will work. Who wants a flower bed with some supposedly fragrant flowers now smelling like cat pee flowers?

Any suggestions how to stop my garden from becoming the neighborhood litter box?

Gardening....

Tuesday, August 12, 2008.....

For people, such as my sister, who think that the Martha Stewart Gardening issue is a waste of an issue, read no further. However, if you like to garden, maybe you can help me.

I have a flagstone path. It's lovely. Actually, it could be if there was no crabgrass growing in the cracks. I have it in my head that moss should be in its place. I've read that you can create moss by spraying the area you want with a mixture of 1 qt of buttermilk with a gallon of water.

Has anyone ever heard of such a thing?

j