Grandma Edie Waters Her Petunias Every Evening. She Never Does It Alone.
A gentle shower pours from the spout of the old metal watering can, splashing over pink petunias and orange marigolds along the front walk. Grandma Edie bends over the flower bed in an olive quilted vest and a soft cream sweater, glasses on, white hair piled in a loose bun, smiling at her blooms. Miso sits right next to her on the stone path, her coat looking full and fluffy in the evening light, blue eyes turned toward the falling water with great interest. Behind them, the front door stands open to a warm, lamplit room with a knit throw over a chair and woven baskets by the step.
Gardens can be lovely places for cats, but some flowers and plants are toxic to them. Lilies are among the most dangerous, since even a small amount of pollen or a nibble of a leaf can cause severe kidney damage in cats. Other common garden plants, such as sago palms, azaleas, and some bulbs like tulips and daffodils, can also cause problems. Petunias and marigolds are generally considered lower risk, though any plant can upset a stomach if eaten in quantity. Before planting, it is worth checking a pet-safe plant list or asking your vet, and avoiding chemical fertilizers where your cat walks.
The flowers get their evening drink, and Miso gets a front-row seat to the little waterfall. It is a simple routine, repeated on many warm evenings, and it seems to suit both of them perfectly.
