Last month, I brought home some beautiful star gazer lilies to take the edge off of winter. As their fragrance filled the room, my charcoal cat began munching on the leaves. I wondered: is that dangerous?
Turns out it could have been fatal. Lilies, especially their leaves, have toxins that shut down feline kidneys in a matter of days. By the time symptoms begin to show, it is often too late. In Shadow's case, we rushed him and his brother to the vet. After the vet induced vomiting, the cats were given activated charcoal to coat their digestive system, and they endured three days of IVs to flush any remaining toxins through their systems and blood panels every so many hours to check their liver and kidney functions. Not the best three days of their lives to be sure, but thank heavens for Dr. Mike. By the time I got there, he'd checked with other local vets on procedures and kept...
Year-Round Benefits
Spreading chopped up wood chips around your plants has become a pretty popular standard for many yards in many areas. But why do we do it and what is our reasoning behind which mulch we choose? It's not just to keep up with the neighbors. And while most mulch is purchased in the spring, mulch is actually plentiful in year-round benefits. - Protection from the sun and heat. Providing an extra barrier between the hot sun and those sensitive roots. - Protection from the cold of winter. Just think of it as a little winter blanket of insulation for the roots of all your prized plants. - Prevents weeds from popping up - the more obstacles you give the weeds, the less likely they are to come up. - Helps hang on to some of that moisture, not only does mulch provide shade for the roots, it keeps the roots a little moister for a little longer. - Organic...
Gardening unveils an abundance of great life lessons. From tilling rich soil in the spring to harvesting the final flowers and fruit, gardens yield more than the simple fruits, vegetables and flowers. A good garden teaches patience and peace. A great garden holds memories of delicious meals shared with loved ones and graced with fragrant and beautiful arrangements for months on end. From an apartment balcony to a full backyard, each garden of mine has had advice, cuttings and conversations from neighbors and friends included in its design and function.
FlowersGood summer choices for cutting and bringing indoors include colorful zinnias, dahlias (depending on location), roses, snapdragons and cosmos. Cosmos have the added advantage of being kind to those of us with allergies. I love to mix them up in bouquets and surprise a neighbor or friend to liven up their day. Another great idea: snip a few flowers before going to a friend’s cook-out. Lay them in a simple piece...
My friend Karen shared this photo from her backyard this year. This Wisteria went crazy with blossoms and graced her yard with purple blossoms for a couple of weeks. She says this year the number of blossoms was absolutely amazing....
Karen sent these photos from a butterfly exhibit at Phoenix's Desert Botanical Gardens, which is nestled in the beautiful red buttes of Papago Park. Serving the community for over 70 years, the gardens are committed to preserving desert plants and educating people about the fragile desert eco-environment. They offer a variety of classes to learn more about how to preserve the desert - and how to plan your own gardens.
They also offer many events throughout the year, including art exhibits and a jazz series in the gardens. Check out the Allan Houser exhibit through the end of this month, or attend one of the many jazz events through June.
Or, simply enjoy these beautiful photos from Karen's desert visit. : )...
A friend of mine in Boulder took this picture Friday before graduation. Snow on lilacs! Spring in Colorado has some weather swings - summer like weather one day, and snow the next....
