THURSDAY IN THE GARDEN WITH DANTE: GUARDIAN OF THE GARDEN

It's Thursday again and where do we find Dante, but in the cat garden relaxing.

At this point, he really has nothing to do but enjoy the fruit (or flowers) of his labour.

There is one new addition to the cat collection, however.

"Dis is a noo bird feedah", says Dante.  " 'Cept we're usin' it ta feed skwirrels!" 

The kitty is pushing a leaf (almost like a wheelbarrow) and there is a little mousie nibbling at the edge.  I thought it was too small to use as a bird feeder, though I tried it out at first.   And, of course, the squirrels dumped most of the birdseed onto the bricks.

We have tried many different kinds of bird feeders, but the squirrels always get into them and dump the seed on the ground.  We have even bought squirrel-resistant bird seed but they still can't resist!

This year we have a family of robins nesting in our tree.

They hop around looking for food.

 So, Dante and Dada decided just to sprinkle the birdseed on a bare patch of ground under the tree where they live.

Daddy asked Dante to promise that he wouldn't eat the birdies.

"Doan worreh Dada, dese birdies are part of mai garden so I mus' proteck dem", says he.

So Dante takes up his post to watch out for any threats to his feathered-friends.

He is a SCENTinel, so to speak.

And on this day, there is a beautiful breeze blowing, and ruffling Dante's furs.

"Dere's nuttin like guardin' mai garden on a loFURly summah's day", says Dante.  "See yoo all next week!"