the promise of spring flowers!

the promise of spring flowers!

by barbNo Comments
First flowers of the season say "yes! earth is awakening from her rest!" Each time my heart leaps at all the miracles which come in this time. Every year. This year my back garden has sunny daffodil faces rimming the garden edge, with some hellebores nestled in. Bowls of pansies with their sweet faces flank my front porch. I love seeing their happy spirits raised up to the sun! And my yard has so many wonderful spring plants! Including so-called "weeds" -chickweed, red and white clover, spring onions, wild violets and dandelions. These "weeds" are also edible! (daffodils and hellebores and the other flowers not so much.) Most of all, spring lifts my spirit, to remind me that all things begin anew, and beauty is so healing. I hope you enjoy the spring - hear the birds call and rejoice, inhale the delicious scent of flowers, and share the strength of trees. pansiessnow dropsspring treesyellow daffodilspurple crocushellebore bloom ...
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Spring flowers & cats: which are toxic?

Spring flowers & cats: which are toxic?

by barbNo Comments
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...
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