Happy #cats +hummingbirds! Harvesting Heirloom Tomatoes for Salsa #GardenCuizine

Today In Our Garden

South Jersey
USDA Zone 7a (formerly zone 6b)

August 17, 2012 

Clockwise from left to right:

• Who said cats and dogs can't be best friends? As you can see, Lucia (a feral cat rescued from farmland in Bridgeton, NJ) is a happy and spoiled kitty! Our cats live indoors so they don't kill the birds, go astray or get killed by cars. Lucy is best friends with Holly, our sweet and very old dog (a rescue from a neighboring town called Mt. Holly). Holly goes out, but can't make it to the garden any more and stays in more than out too. She can't walk without assistance anymore. We haven't splurged for a doggy wheelchair; I'm sure she could probably use one at this point. Lucy is never far from Holly's side.
• Our hummingbird activity continues in full force - the most ever this year! In recent news, hummingbird nectar producing plants are diminishing across their migratory route due to drought-related weather conditions. If you live along their route you could help out by hanging humming bird feeders and growing nectar producing plants.
• Cannas are still blooming around the garden border along with Lady in Red salvias (Salvia coccinea), both easy- to-grow humming bird favorites. We also have potted Hamelia patens hummingbird bush, wild trumpet vines and late blooming hostas (including Krossa Regal) and cleome that attract hummingbirds.
• Thyme is abundant, can take the heat, and is an easy plant to grow cascading out of pots 
• Lycopersicon lycopersicum 'Black Russian' heirloom tomatoes are a strange 2-toned color. At first glance, they look like Cherokee Purple heirlooms. After letting a few burst open on the vines, we learned that Russian Black must be picked while still green on the top before their rosy bottom halves get over-ripe and explode! These will be used in a batch of homemade salsa.

Happy Gardening!

Related Links
Homemade Salsa Carol's Heirloom Collection Blog

Hummingbirds.net 
Hummingbird Pollinators
Tango, the Garden Cat - a feral cat story for adults and children
Photo collage Copyright (C) 2012 Wind. All rights reserved.

Special Cats

Tango, the Garden Cat

It has been quite a long time since I posted. I'll be sure to share some health and nutritional garden recipes and tips soon, but first I'd like to start back by mentioning my favorite story that has been unfolding in our lives ~ Tango the Garden Cat. Tango is a three part story for all ages to enjoy reading. The series was published on Dave's Gardens international website.

• Part 1: Tango Arrives
• Part 2: Tango's Garden Adventure 
• Part 3:  Home for Christmas

The story was written with a fictional twist, however it is based on a true story.

Tango is a real, small and sweet, feral cat that arrived in our garden. And as it turned out, he had feral friends! The fantastic artwork was created just for this story by a wonderful and talented color pencil artist, Carol Moore. Please thank Carol for her support of feral cats by visiting her web site.
 
You too can make a difference in the lives of feral cats, like Tango, by supporting organizations that help feral cats. Or even better yet -- so long as you're not expecting a lap cat -- maybe you can adopt and directly help out and save the lives of a feral cat (or two or three!) -- they would be forever grateful.

Note: update 1/5/2019: sorry, it appears that the story links are no longer active. The online Tango story was eventually deleted by Dave's Gardens new owners. Of course, we love the story and may rewrite it in a children's story book someday. Tango is still alive with his sisters and living comfortably indoors.

Related Links: 
Alley Cat Allies
Photo collage copyright ©2011 Wind. Tango, the Garden Cat is a trademark of Feral Gardens. All rights reserved.