THURSDAY IN THE GARDEN WITH DANTE: FRONT AND BACK!

Well, there's not much new this week in Dante's Cat Garden, but we'll concentrate on what is.

 The spirea bush has begun to bloom!

The last red flowers on the wiegela bush, at the left, are fading, and as if on cue ...

... the spirea blossoms burst forth!  They will be in flower for the next couple of months.

The 'Lucky Cat' is giving the spirea a high-five.  He and his buddha-buddies are just ecstatic!  They wait all year long for this.

And since there is little-to-nothing to do in front, Dante has finally turned his attentions to the back yard.

 In case some of you may not know, Dante'S official title is "Secretary of Furtrilization" of the "Society of Feline Gardeners".  Although he has other duties, as you may have seen, his primary function is to PURRform FURtilization techniques and disseminate the results.

First you have to dig the hole.

Make sure that it is deep enough.

Then you squat and give it a soft squeeze.  Nature generally takes over from there. 

No FURtilization PURRocedure is complete without the tidy-up.  Covering the FURtilizer with earth is very important because otherwise it can get over-ripe.

That's it for now!  Any questions?

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY WITH DANTE: A LOOK BACK!

(Biggify for full impact)

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!"

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY WITH DANTE: THE EYES HAVE IT!

DANTE: HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO MY PAW!

Today it is Father's Day and Dante is celebrating his beloved "Dada" (as he calls him).  He is also combining this with the Illumination Award, because he is letting you into the PURRivate world between him and his Dad -- where few have gone before.

ILLUMINATING FACT #1:  DANTE IS A DADDY'S BOY!

I must say, this is quite appropriate because Dante's Dada is a shining light in his life.  He's there for Dante through winter, spring, summer and fall.  Witness ...

"Dada sits outside wif me in wintah.  He keeps a watchful eye on me", says Dante.

 "Dada makes sure I am dressed nice an' warm for walks in da snow.!

ILLUMINATING FACT #2:  DAD HOLDS DANTE UNDER HIS ARM BECAUSE HE'S TOO BIG TO CARRY ANY OTHER WAY.

  "Dada is holdin' me up for da camerah.  No mattah wot, I feels verreh secure in his hands."

ILLUMINATING FACT #3:  DADDY HAS TO FETCH DANTE WHEN IT'S TIME TO GO  INSIDE.  DANTE LOVES TO BE OUTSIDE SO MUCH,  HE TENDS TO RESIST.

And speaking of resistance ...

"Bein' wif Dada is a verreh movin' exPURRience!"

"Dada an' me has sunshine on our sholdahs.  If dis isn't illuminatin', I doan know wot is!"

"I helps Dada by snoopervisin' him.  It's MY garden aftah all -- even in da Fall." 

"Dada takes me to da vet.  I mus' admit I'm a liddle nervous, but Dada makes me feel safe no mattah where I am."

"Here's Dada lifting me up on da examinin' table.  He reassures me dat efurryfin will be fine.  An' it was!"

ILLUMINATING FACT#4:  DANTE LIKES TO GO SHOPPING AT THE PETSMART WITH HIS DAD.   

"Dada takes efurry opPURRtunity to gives me a scwatch.  It's always a liddle ruff -- jus' da way I likes it!"

"Here's Dada helpin' me open a package from wun of my friends.  He always helps me do wot I cant do fur myself."

"I jus' loves Crismouse mornin' wif my Dada.  I gets lotsa hugs an' cuddles -- as well as new toys an' treats!"

"My Dada is a kooky kinda guy!  He even walks in da rain wif a kittycat umbrella!  He knows dat cats cum frum a long line a Kings."

ILLUMINATING FACT #5:  DANTE HAS TRAINED HIS DAD TO DO HIS BIDDING.  

It started with Dante leading his Dad to his food dish where he would beg for more.  If there was some left in the dish, Dad would just say "Lotsa food, Dante", and when Dante would take a bite, Daddy would praise him.  "That's a good boy, Dante -- good boy!". 

So, now it has become a ritual.  If there is no food left, of course Daddy must fill up the bowl again, but if not, Daddy must stay and watch him eat!  Either way, Dante has his full attention.

If Dante wants out, he will howl until his Daddy comes to let him out.  Dante can be quite demanding and has trained Daddy to respond quickly.

So, Happy Father's Day to one great cat daddy.  Dante and Dada are quite the pair -- practically insePURRable!

As for the Illuminating Blog Award, I bequeath it to anyone who hasn't already received it.  Just snag it, and tell us five illuminating facts about yourselves.  May the sun shine on you in PURR-PET-uity!

THURSDAY IN THE GARDEN WITH DANTE: WHAT'S NEW PUSSYCAT?

Dante is waiting in his chair on the front porch for you to arrive so he can begin today's tour.

"Welcome!  Today I am gonna shows yoo fings dat are noo in my garden.  An' along da way, we'll check on sum old fafurites, too."

"Furst of all, dere's sumfin noo rite here on the front porch!  Excuse me wiles I sniffs it out."

"It is a waterin' can dat's supposta look like me, I fink.  But da legs is fah too skinneh.  It wuz a gift frum my Auntie Susan who lives across da street.  I luvs mai Auntie Susan!"

"Wot duz yoo fink?  Is dere any resemblance?"

"An' I'm off!  If yoo wonts ta see da rest den follow me."

"Dis is my fafurite tree.  It needs a talkin' to efurry now an' den.  Say hello, efurryone!"

"An' I likes ta give it a pat on the back fur bein' dere wenefur I needs sumwun ta lean on."  

"OK.  Let's keep movin'. Dere's no time ta waste.  Keep up wif me, willya?"

"Our next stop is the wiegelas.  Dey is bustin' out all ofur!  Well done, buddies!" 

"Now dis is sumfin verreh noo -- in fact I had ta look it up on da innernets ta find out all about it!  In our pot wif da pink geraniums, we has little visitors.  APURRopriately enuff, dey is CATerpillars!  Wot else wood yoo expect in a Cat Garden?  Anyway, heer is sum information about dem.  Dey shur are cool liddle suckahs!"

 "Geometridae is the official name of the family of caterpillars that look like twigs or sticks. The color and markings on these caterpillars allow them to blend in with trees such that people and predators mistake them for part of the branches. The Geometridae includes more than 300 species of moth caterpillars." 

"Stick caterpillars are brown or brownish-red with occasional darker markings on them. They are thin and long, similar to how sticks and twigs look. Additionally, these caterpillars have warts and other types of knots on them to enhance their stick-like appearance."

"The caterpillars in the family grouping Geometridae have two pairs of prolegs and no legs on the abdomen. As such, in order for the caterpillars to move forward they have to loop themselves up and then straighten out again, which is how they got the nickname "loopers."

"We efun saw a green baby CATerpillar!  It is so neat how dey hangs onto da plant leaf by jus' a coupla back legs.  Dey kin extend demselves straight out like a twig an' dey sway in da breeze.  Awesum!"

 "An' heer's sumfin OLD in da garden (oldah dan me, anyway)!  It's my sistah, Domino.  Efurryone say hello to Domino!"

"An' dis is de end of da tour.  We has come arownd full circle an' we're back at da front porch.  I fink we saw sum pretty interestin' fings along da way.  Fank yoo fur joinin' me an' have a good day  You've URNed it!"