Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Cat Casualty and Cactus

Cat Casualty


This is not the first time I've seen an injured lizard resting on my garden monk. The lizards seem drawn to it for some reason. Uninjured lizards prefer the large landscape rocks and other places, but once the neighbor cat goes after them and they are lucky enough to survive with just a missing tail, they head for the monk! Maybe it has some mysterious healing power. The tail on this lizard is growing back nicely, so it will be OK. Others who lost too much haven't been so lucky. This cat is the bane of my garden. I find cat hair on my patio swing cushions, bird feathers behind bushes, and dig spots in my rose bed. The neighbor claims it's "not really" his cat so he can't control it, but the cat lives at his house and he feeds it. I haven't yet figured out what my neighbor's definition of ownership is.

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Lots of cactus flowers this week! Here are a few....


Rebutia spegazziniana


Opuntia santa rita



Parodia rutilans
x Echinopsis 'Rose Quartz'
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20 comments:

Ashraf sharif said...

Beautiful you have many colors this week

Claude said...

Fantastic colors! I especially like the parodia. Strange, I don't usually like pinks... My Santa Rita isn't doing anything this year... no blooms, no new growth, nothing... maybe it needs feeding?

As for the cat, even if your neighbor did decide that it was his cat, he probably couldn't control it... I've never figured out how to control a cat, and I've had them all my life...

Elizabeth-Plain and Simple said...

Beauiful and colorful blooms. I am also having problems with my neignbor's cats. We cannot keep them away from our goldfish pond at night and it is getting expensive to keep it stocked. We have talked to him and he says they are not his cats; they just stay there....It seems that we will have to purchase a netting cover to put over the pond at night to protect our fish...Thanks for sharing your beautiful cactus flowers.

Blessings,
Elzabeth

Unknown said...

I agree, nice colors!! Healing statue for lizards........you may be on to something..

Paula said...

Poor lizard - what an amazing thing to have lizards in your yard. Love your flowers - cactus are amazing plants. I love seeing each week what they are doing at your house.
Paula
p.s. Thanks also for the help on the strawberries. It halped me figure out what I need to do! You also asked about our zone - we are a zone 4.

Tracey said...

Cactus flowers are beautiful! I use to live Arizona when I was little. Brings back fond memories! :) Hope the lizard will be OK. BAD KITTY!
Happy Bloomin Tuesday!

WiseAcre said...

I'm glad to see no cats where harmed in this production. You might want to get one of those super soaker water guns. We 'trained' our cats to stay off the counters with a water gun and maybe the cat will learn your yard is off limits once you get your aim down..

Anonymous said...

Your Cactus blooms amaze me! So many wonderful colors. I think if you feed a cat that defines ownership in my opinion. ;)

Suzanne said...

Love the beautiful, vibrant colors -- just glorious! That little lizard knows where to go for help!

Teresa said...

Your cactus blooms are so vibrant! I love them!

Hey, you know your succulents, right? Can you tell me the proper name of the plant in my 2nd photo today?

Happy bloomin Tuesday!

kesslerdee said...

Oh gorgeous every one! I love that Parodia. I don't think I have that one in my collection. Cactus have become my weakness- there are just SO MANY and little ones are cheap to buy. I can't say no!
and as for cats I agree 100%. I catch them stalking my bird area and chase them away. My neighborhood seems to have a whole assortment of feral cats.

Jean said...

I have cat problems too. I'm going to try a powerful water gun but it's hard to catch them at it. They dig in everything. I can't even pick a favorite of your stunning cactus flowers this week!

Anonymous said...

Maybe a cat trap and off to the pound?

Julie said...

Yes...a cat trap is perfect. My friend has trapped about 4 adults and 3 babies behind her house! It is humane, keeps them from becoming pregnant, or impregnating, and also from living a life possibly infested with fleas, worms or ticks, etc. It also will keep them out of your yard. My one neighbor kept a trap always set in her yard and when she got one, she would have the pound come and pick up!

Now...on to your photos! GORGEOUS is all I can say!! There is just something so amazing about cactus flowers!!!

beckie said...

I am in awe of your beautiful cactus blooms. especially the Rose Quartz. They must provide you with hours and hours of joy.

Cats are a pain when it comes to birds or plants. And there is very little controling them, unfortunately. :)

Dee/reddirtramblings said...

Oh, those beautiful, ethereal flowers! I'm sorry about the cat. I have a bad girl myself, and she sometimes catches the lizards. On the other hand, she also kills the field mice who want to inhabit our house. Sorry about your neighbor. Love the monk.~~Dee

Jocelyn H. Chilvers said...

I love these colors! The flower petals seem translucent and really make the colors glow.

Laura Z said...

The lizards are looking for sanctuary! I suppose it's an open spot where they can see the predators coming?

i had a cat like that once too; it came with my house. Don't be mad at the neighbor, he's just been adopted by the cat. Turn the sprinklers on when you see it coming!

Rock rose said...

It must be such a joy to see these new, gorgeous flowers every day. I'm sorry to say this but I don't like cats in the garden either. They should be made to stay indoors where I think they can be quite happy. We once had a feral cat and it was always killing the lizards. Not for food, either, as he would toss them up and down in the air, playing with them. Imagine if I had not spent $75 having her aborted when she was pregnant.

MrBrownThumb said...

The Parodia rutilans is amazing and I still an awestruck by your purple on your Opuntia every time I see it.