Tiger in the Wild

I was almost attacked by a tiger yesterday. This is what happened:

I was spreading fresh pine straw in the woodland garden. Pine straw is a readily available mulch in my area. I love the way it neatens the planting areas, and it has a great smell. I was bent over, my head down as I spread the straw around some hydrangeas. A movement caught my eye, and I glanced up.

Garden the cat, who does not belong to me, was a few feet in front of me. Her belly was low, and she was creeping forward, stalking her prey. Obviously, the prey was me. She halted when she saw me looking at her.

"What are you doing," I asked, "playing tiger in the wild?"

Her eyes narrowed for a moment as her body tensed. Then she pounced.

I thought she was going to land on my head, but instead Garden dove headfirst into the pine straw, where she buried all of her body but her rear end and tail. She rolled over and over, kicking pine straw in every direction, until she finally landed on her feet. 

I laughed. "Well, you are frisky!" 

She came up to me, purring madly, and I had to spend a few minutes petting her and picking pine straw out of her fur.

Spring does that to you. Birds and bees and cats and people are all feeling the enthusiasm of the new season. Today I planted carrots, beets, and lettuce in the vegetable garden. Then I planted a few perennials, transplanted some columbine and foxglove, and fertilized everything in sight with fish emulsion. I'm afraid my yard smells fishy, and so do I. But I'm feeling good.

I also took some photos of my garden on this first official day of spring.  Here are a few shots of the lady garden:

This garden is only a couple years old and is in what I call the "little dot" stage, as all the plantings are still small. It is on a slight slope in a clearing in the woods, on the site of my children's old playground. It is my best effort at formality, but it will never be more than a pretender, like a lady dressed in finery but still wearing sneakers.

Colorful flowers and foliage are not hard to find:

I put my camera on the ground to take some photos of some grape hyacinths and got an ant's view:

And here is the woodland garden — see the fresh pine straw!

I hope all of you enjoy the new season. May you feel as frisky as a tiger in the wild!

You may also like: My garden friend, the cat and A spring tease.

A Spring Tease

Yesterday was the last day of fall, and I went for a walk in my garden. What did I find? Come with me, and I'll show you.

Enter the woodlands with the mossy paths.

Garden, the cat will greet you. She's not my cat! But she's always there, and I've finally named her. Maybe her family calls her Tootsie or something like that, but she and I know her real name is Garden.

Fall is passing away. There is the last geranium leaf.

Hydrangea blossoms are crinkly and dry.

Goldmound spirea leaves, colors flaming before the end.

Japanese maple leaves litter the ground.

I found these signs of fading fall. 

But don't stop! Follow the path. There's more to see.

Mahonia buds soon will be blooming.

And there are flowers! We see the last roses,

 The first camellia blooms, 

And daffodils!

Is it spring? No, it's only a tease. Winter is coming to Alabama, sharp and cold, but just enough to give me frosty toes and an excuse to buy a new coat. It won't last long, a couple of months, and then it will be - Spring!

This post is dedicated to friends whose gardens will a spend long winter napping under blankets of snow. Just think, while you are resting with your hot chocolate, it will be time for me to get out the hoe, shovel, and trowel and get to work!

You might also like "My garden friend, the cat" or "Moss path in the woodland garden".