Garden Security: Meet Tober

Meet Tober! Our garden security guard. Though she is 13 years old, she still hunts regularly and keeps our yard free from moles and other destructive critters. She also monitors the neighbors yards for moles as well, particularly helpful for them since they have such beautiful lawns (we on the other hand mainly focus on flowers, trees and bushes). Tober was born as a feral cat but retrieved from her mother by my daughter when she was old enough to be separated from her mother (also a long haired beauty). She lived with my daughter for many years, most of the time as an indoor cat (but she had her nights of escape every now and then). Tober adapted to many apartments in the Boston area. Finally, my darling daughter could not take two cats with her for one of the moves and Tober ended up with us (my hubby and I). Though she spent the first six months with us running to the cellar everytime she heard a strange noise or got nervous, she now is our princess cat and very affectionate as well as a great companion (she is quite talkative).

Double Daylilies!

Double Daylilies are a favorite subject when my daylilies are in bloom. They make some of the best Wedding and Anniversary cards. They appear to be to so triumphant. Yet each blossom is fleeting lasting only one day. Good thing each plant has lots of blossoms. They are very carefree, flamboyant and showy. Their subtleties of color delight the eye.
Here are a few more of the sunbathing beauties.








These daylilies were an anniversary gift from hubby's dear sister. They are a gift that keeps giving and giving. More than just double happiness. Happiness each season they bloom. The last photo is the view towards our front yard from the dayliliy location. Blooming flowers bring me into the garden to see them but then the show goes on with other scenes played out in soft greens and great lighting.

Caretaker gains toadstools

The "Caretaker" surprised me one day lately. I looked in his direction to find a large toadstool next to him as well as other toadstools in that part of the garden. I am reminded of the Jimmy Buffet song in which his daughter dances around and steps on toadstools. The toadstools appear like magic and then disappear as suddenly. And there is a delight in them like the special days of young daughters in the garden. Happiness is a young daughter in the garden learning to enjoy your passion for living things. Double Happiness is when that young daughter grows up and continues sharing that passion for living things with others.

Garden Care Taker

Meet my garden "caretaker"! As a laughing Buddha he represents my ties to China and the orient. I spent 5 months in China in 1995 and the country and its people still call to me. Strangely, there were few gardens in the part of China I lived in and precious little grass. The garden feels so much more precious to me. Even leaves of grass fascinate when there are few of them.
When creating this post I ended up with a "double". Perhaps this portends the Chinese "Double Happiness".

Mary-How Does Your Garden Grow?

Gardening is one of my passions. Photography another. Writing an interest I want to incorporate into my future. This blog will allow all to live happily together, I hope. Enjoy the adventure! Peace, Love and Joy!