Author Archives: Christine R

Meet Cassie.

Cassie (26 Nov 2021)

She is one of three wild kittens born and bred in our backyard. I first spotted them on 3rd February. The mother cat (the same one that had the white kitten a few years ago, since vanished) hid them after a few days. It was the 27th before they started coming out from under the bungalow to feed: two beautiful fluffy tortoiseshells and a short-haired marmalade tabby. I fell in love with them, even named them: Cassie, Princess and Timmy (a play on timid).

I’m going to have them neutered, once they survive summer, for I don’t want to fork out the money unless I know they can survive encounters with snakes. There’s always summer snakes just the other side of next door, where the mother cat comes from.

Presuming I could have caught them, back then. I have a possum cage I could use. I believe the Shire Office has humane cat catching cages but there’s a law you can’t hold them caged for more than a certain number of hours.

Mother cat, Princess, Timmy & Cassie (26 Nov 2021)

They are getting used to me, especially Cassie. When I’m walking up and down the yard (on my newly made pine-barked paths) she often stays in place as I walk by. Princess is relaxing a bit. Timmy always bolts.

I guess they’ll be traumatised when I get them spayed. But it must be done.

Thanks for looking.

🙂

Post: 9/365

Friday Feline

Feline Friday: meet Cassie

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Thanks for looking.

🙂

8/365

Bees & Bugs

Untitled

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Some years ago, I planted three Red Hot Poker plants out the front. They sat there, all spindly as they grew, until they poked out a tentative flower or two. I gave them a bit of compost and, this year, they’re putting on a good display.

Last year (or maybe the year before), when I started turning my yard into a cottagey-style garden, I had various plants in pots sitting around. Some of the poor things had been potted for years. I had this spiky looking plant, like a pineapple top. I wondered if had planted a pineapple top. I shoved it in the garden. My method is to ignore any special conditions apart from sun or shade. Dig a hole and bung it it, water it, and tend it lovingly for few weeks. After that, my plants pretty much have to fend for themselves. If they cannot survive neglect, then they have no place in my garden.

(I can’t believe I’m actually deadheading marigolds, gerberas, gazanias and the gaillardia each morning.)

As my mystery (label-less) plant grew and grew, I guessed it was some type of lily — if it wasn’t a pineapple. Eventually, a huge Red Hot Poker flower stalk emerged. I have no memory of buying the plant, but I obviously did.

I love the way the flowers die from bottom up.

I just Googled to find out if I should deadhead.

I should.

Hmmm, thinking of secateurs, I had to buy another after misplacing a brand-new one. I have a bad habit of leaving tools where I use them. I’m trying to improve. Same with emptying the wheelbarrow. Nothing worse than transferring weeds and trimmings to the compost heap from a wheelbarrow half full of water! You’d think a person my age would know better. [sigh]

Thanks for looking.

🙂

On 15th November 2021, I declared I would blog every day for the next 365.

Progress?

Posted: 7/365

Missed: 2

Flowers

Kniphofia: Red Hot Poker

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