Prowling the Garden with Felines: a photo essay

Photo Essay Contest

Milo, our bipolar cat, can be very insistent when he wants attention. I say this not to cast aspersions on those suffering from bipolar disorder, as my daughter, diagnosed at age 15 with the same ailment, agrees that Milo is assuredly a bipolar feline.

Born of a neighbor's white mama cat and a mysterious stranger, Milo is long, sinuous, and sports one blue and one yellow eye. He pounces on all of our other cats (we now have only two others since Jasmine died last week. Sigh.) and terrorizes them at every turn. He rolls around with Balto, our Cavapoo, play fighting in the living room.

As far as humans go, you never know if Milo will smother you in love, or bite you as you pass his chair. It's extreme, on either end.

A few days ago, he insisted on joining me on my garden photo tour, fortunately in a very loving mood. He followed every step, wrapping around my legs and "kissing" me at every opportunity. I took as many shots of him as I did the flowers. ;o)

We started at the hibiscus. It was a dark morning, rain was pending, so the light was a bit dim for photographs, but I tend to like the rich colors that come from no sunlight glaring on the petals!

Northern Lights Azaleas. I don't have much luck with azaleas, but these two bushes have thrived. They have an amazing scent, too. Sweet and light, very fragrant. I didn't know azaleas had scents, and was shocked yesterday to discover by accident, after ten years of passing this lovely plant, that it was fragrant! LOL!

We continued around the corner to check out the rhododendrums, which were just beginning to open.

Tristan, our senior Himalayan, also joined the foray in to the gardens. Allouette wouldn't sit still for a portrait, so you'll have to imagine a tortoiseshell Himalayan hybrid - just like an orange and black long haired beauty! Wait. Let me find an older photo of her. Here she is! They both followed along with Milo after a while.

She was shy and hid a little to protect herself from Milo, who often pounces on her.

Herbs, cool coleus colors, and eucalyptus! We have six huge containers full of herbs and I can't tell you how lovely it is to be able to hop out onto the porch to pick handfuls of herbs, instead of trekking way out to the far garden to get them! I know this is not a novel idea, but for years I had "in the garden" herb gardens, and never made the move to porch containers.

This is not a banner year for the Siberian wallflowers, they are rather small in the off years, but the little angel seems to be enjoying them! Isn't that a great color, though? 

I couldn't resist this shot. Here he is again, wrapping around my legs. Forgive my dirty feet, I know they aren't as cute as Gordie's!!! LOL.

This little ant guards my cutting garden. I plant it just for cut flowers - with about twenty packs of annuals strewn into the front of the garden.

 Still keeping guard. You'll see the tree peonies (behind) in the next photo essay.

Milo will keep his eye on the gardens for me while I'm at work.

Thanks for stopping by and talk to you soon. I have two more essays of photos coming. One will feature iris and tree peonies, the other will be a "how to" for easy vegetable gardening! Stay tuned and have a lovely day.

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In addition to a passion for photography, Aaron Lazar works as an engineer by day, but can be found on weekends in his gardens with his two toddler sidekicks, grandsons Julian and Gordon. His passion lies in writing, where he has created eleven books with characters of depth, color and substance. Lazar entices readers with intricate plots, lush imagery, breathless action, gourmet meals, classical music, bountiful gardens and surprising romantic moments.  

Mr. Lazar also writes monthly columns for the Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine, Voice in the Dark newsletter, and has been published often in Absolute Write. He lives in Upstate NY with his extended family. Visit his websites at www.legardemysteries.com; www.mooremysteries.com, and his blog at www.aaronlazar.blogspot.com.