Quebec Trek

 I'm just back from touring public and private gardens in and around Quebec City in Canada with the Garden Writers Assocation. Every garden I went to I looked for felines to photograph. Alas, none. (Plenty of dogs though, go figure.) On the last day, we stopped at a village on the I'lle-d'Orleans (the island of Orleans just outside the city in the St. Lawrence river). There, we visited a wonderful store full of garden statuary called L'Art au Jardins. The inside and out of the shop was stuffed full of garden art pieces. Here are a few cat representations I saw there.

And finally, this one just HAD to come home in my suitcase with me. It is by a Toronto artist and I just love that head-on silhouette. The artist also makes the classic side cat silhouettes and other creatures like Cardinals and Woodpeckers for your garden and tree decor.

Butterfly Kisses

Tracie McWhirt Ballentine wrote: "We inherited Tuxedoman on January 2, 2007. My daughter went to the Stafford Co. (Virginia) Animal Shelter after Thanksgiving to get some 'kitty loving.' After I explicitly told her not to bring home a cat. She brought home a cat. Not just any cat but a pregnant cat. Tuxedoman was born in my bedroom closet the day after New Year's Day. He has been an awesome cat. He is the only cat that I know of that will come when he is called no matter where he is in the yard. By day, he patrols the yard protecting my husband's vegetable garden and my butterfly garden. By night, he is pampered puss ( I bring him in after the sun goes down). He makes an awesome sleeping companion. Cats get a bad rap for being aloof or standoffish, not my Tuxedoman. He is the coolest. As he glides across the yard you can almost hear the jazz back beat."

Tuxedoman on the prowl.

Most days he can be found laying under the leaves of my coneflowers waiting to ambush someone or something.
 

Sunny Days

Kimberly Bell sent in this photo of Sunny. Kimberly works at Outsidepride.com and lives in Oregon.

"Sunny is 10 years old, and a very special orange, tabby female. Orange females are rare from what the vet has said, and she’s polydactyl to top off her 'specialness!' She’s an indoor cat until summer rolls around, and then she spends most of her time lounging amongst the flowers. She used to be quite the mouser when she was young, but now that she’s more mature, she prefers more refined, dignified behavior – and sleep."

Tilly Tends the Garden

 

This is Tilly. She enjoys patrolling the garden and greeting visitors. She lives with Irene Sinclair at her home in the Palisades neighborhood of Washington, DC.