The Plan

This year I’ve become aware that the winter garden does, in fact, exist and it’s more interesting than ever. I don’t think I would have been able to wrap my mind around this concept had my gardening style not evolved to appreciate foliage and bark color, habit and texture over flowers, which don’t last. Here’s the front perennial bed under a soft white blanket of snow.

I especially like the effects of the dry mullein stalks, which were planted by the birds. The large trees in the background (likely also planted by birds) aren’t bad either.
One of this year’s goals is to work some winter interest into one of my newer beds. Good candidates that I have or am acquiring: Japanese pussy willow, Japanese fantail willow, yellow curly willow, Harry Lauder’s walking stick, red and yellow-twig dogwood, red curly willow, black pussy willow.

Al alluded to a cat house for Doppel in his last post. Here it is now completed and in use.

Excellent design and meticulous craftsmanship by Al. It is fully insulated and has a fleece-covered goose down pillow on the inside. Al will build a fancy roof for it later, temps were plunging and there simply wasn’t time to complete that part as I was in a hurry to get Doppel into it.  And it’s a good thing we finished it last night as it was -11F this morning!

When we brought it into the barn last night, we put dry cat food inside it as a way to force Doppel in. We wanted to make sure he understood how to go in and out the little opening, which turned out to be in the shape of a piece of toast. He did it but seemed confused since that’s not where we usually put the food. Not knowing anything about cat house design, we were a bit concerned that the opening might be too small and that perhaps he might feel trapped if a predator were to approach. But when I came in the barn this morning, there he was all curled up inside, snug and fairly warm given outside temps.

And speaking of snug cats, Peaches does not appear to miss his barncat days. Just about a year ago he, too,  lived in the loft of the barn and spent many a -10F day.

Is Peaches looking in the mirror? No, he’s looking at his doppelgänger through our glass storm door. A while back there were random sightings of doppelgänger on our road, but never on our property. The cat bears such an uncanny resemblance to Peaches that I’m convinced it’s his brother. Where has he been all this time!?  About 2 weeks ago Al was looking out the window and spotted him right next to the house! And guess what, I’ve been feeding him ever since (that’s a no brainer). He lives in the loft of our barn where all the other feral cats used to hang out (RIP Scaredy Cat and Barney). And today he came to our door because he needed more food. He was very polite about the whole thing, much like Peaches before he became so entitled.