Sinningia 'Diva', Scampering Kittens, African violets outdoors, and Columnea 'Red Skelton'

 This is Sinningia 'Diva' that was given to me by Patrick Worley.  I don't know where he got it or it's background, but it's very lovely and has a good double effect.

The plant is medium in height and not too sprawly!

 Winston is trying his best to look innocent while hiding his sister who is frolicking behind him... note the tail and ears....

This is Ivy. She's wondering why some weirdo human is screaming and shouting and jumping around like the chipmunks do outside. She's confused.

 This is Walter the Gardening Cat. He knows that it takes a more subtle approach to be a gardening cat. First you have to lull the unsuspecting "humans"into a false sense of calm before proceeding to "garden". He knows that if he's very cute and in his box... he'll be all but ignored while he's actually trying to "help" with the gardening.

 This is the dish garden from the spring show. It sits outside in the rain and wind and dappled shade and the African violet grows just fine, thank-you-very-much! So much for the superstition about ever getting any water on the leaves or changes in temperatures... they do just fine as an outside plant as long as they don't have too much direct sun.

The blooms also seem to be a brighter intensity of color. The one drawback is the little chipmunk bites out of the front two leaves however.... oh well....

 I was so excited to see some orange in one of the trays yesterday. It is Columnea 'Red Skelton' which seems to have HUGE blooms on a small plant.

Not bad, eh???


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Walter the Gardening Cat Gets Assistants

The blog has been on hiatus due to unforeseen circumstances.....

Back a couple of posts ago, Walter was not alone. He had some company in the plant room. If you will notice, his company was as round as a basketball and waddled.

*note Mamma was a pregnant stray taken from an area with all four-lane roads, traffic and cement and now given a permanent, loving and SAFE indoor home with veterinary care.

 SURPRISE!!!!

Walter welcomed into the world some newly minted gardening help. He was feeling a bit overwhelmed with his plant chores and thought some assistants would be a great idea.

This assistant is only three hours old.

 The "Itty Bitty Pretty Kitty Committee" started off at four ounces and had its eyes tight shut and ears folded down.












Walter did not expect quite so much a resemblance because he is only the "uncle" to the young ones.

 We spent a lot of time sleeping and eating.... eating and sleeping.

 Walter paid only a short and tiny visit to the happy new family and knew that he should wait about a month until trying that again if he valued his anatomy in one piece!

 We grew and grew and got weighed each day to see if we were making the proper progress.

 One day we even got to go on a field trip and try out a new soft bed (mostly for photo purposes). That did not last however. Mamma preferred keeping her family were they were and where she could keep a very, very close eye on them.







And speaking of eyes, our eyes opened to reveal a stunning blue!

After the "Kitty Committee" grew for a while they moved to a room where there were more toys and more fun. They invented all sorts of games like "King of the Pillow" which is still a Committee favorite.

 The Kitty Committee was charted and graphed and it amazed everyone that the growth was so perfectly linear. I wonder if they show you that at vet school?







The "Committee" even decided that being weighed wasn't so bad, they would assist in "helpful" ways.

 We're now much bigger and feistier and will challenge all toys that get in the way.

But, really... after all that hard play and training for the new plant room assistant job, there has to be a little down time. They are practicing some "nap therapy" now, which involves a vigorous round of wrestling and then a sudden drop into a coma.





Walter, in one of his weaker moments, was caught being nice to the kittens and snuggling. He will make a fine "horticultural tutor" when the Kitty Committee is ready to learn. 

Stay tuned for future updates on training for plant recognition, plant tasting and plant shelf selection.

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