My heart goes out to you & everyone who were blessed for knowing Summer. I know the pain of losing a cherished feline friend. May she rest in peace & always be remembered.
KanuK

My heartfelt sympathies, Paul. I know she had a wonderful home with you and your family while she was here.
-terry

My sympathies to you at Ashdown---she looks like a lovely cat. It is tough to lose a treasured pet.

thinking of you.

Florence

Paul I'm sorry about your kitty. But glad you posted so we could all remember her with you. A lot of us who grow roses are also fond of kitties or pet owners in general. I'm sure Summer will rest peacefully.

Kate

So many of my rose-loving friends are animal lovers too. Bless you both for giving Summer kitty a good life. ((Paul)) ((Trish))

I am sorry for your loss but glad your dear kitty had a good crossing. Cats and roses go together.

patricia

My heartfelt sympathies to you and your family. To me animals are no less than people, only different. Right now we're raising a baby mouse whose mother died in the air conditioning vent of my car. She had the baby with her who miraculously survived and even this little creature has a lovable personality of her own. Animals teach us so much and their passing leaves a huge gap. I'm so sorry.

Ingrid

I am sure no one minds at all, Paul. Condolences to you and your wife. I have some anxiety about losing our remaining cat. I feel we could never get another one like her. (In truth, she "got" us.)I am glad Summer's passing was peaceful. How old was she? How did she come to live with you?

Thank you for all the kind words. It does seem so many rose people are also cat people and certainly animal people.

Summer was only seven so it was a total surprise. She was ok yesterday.

All the Ashdown Cats (four now three) came to live with us at the same time back in the summer of 2002. They were kittens born to stray cats had in the garage of someone who worked for me. We took in Summer and her sister Duchess and also from a different litter two brothers Duke and Alex. We got them all within weeks of each other and they all grew up together at the nursery.

Paul and Trish, I'm so sorry to hear about Summer. I know how much it hurts to lose a beloved feline friend - I have been through it several times now! Please try to take comfort in the knowledge that you gave her a wonderful, happy life!

I was glad you posted this story too, Paul. My husband and I have 3 >^..^My "baby" Abbi has not been herself these past few weeks, but she is getting old too....it's hard when you lose them.

BTW, thank you for the videos on climbing roses, as we are planning to plant our first few climbers here in NYS and had no understanding of how to do it. Your videos are great for people who learn BEST by being SHOWN HOW. They are brief enough to hold my husband's attention, and I appreciate your sense of humor too!
:0) Phyl

Many hugs and condolences Paul...Her spirit will be resting amongst your lovely dogwood trees and frisking in her sleeping family's dreams. Rest in Kitty Nepata Heaven with the roses, little one....what a lovely kitty Summer was...

Paul and Trish, I know you will miss her. I love cats and they can be so dear to our daily lives. I am glad you posted about Summer. She looked so cute too. It makes us aware of how special our pets are to all of us.

Juliet

I am so sorry to hear this. I had the good luck to meet her at the first Ashdown dirt day. She was such a pretty and sweet kitty and she was young too. She will be missed.

Hugs to paul and trish,

Sunni

Thank you for sharing your memory of Summer with us. Losing a member of the family is never easy, especially when she is so beloved.

Jeff

Paul and Trish,
My thoughts and the thoughts of our four cats; Peter, Jazzmine, Sidney, and Lily are with you.
It's nice that you have a place to bury them nearby.
Rob
BC:)

All things bright and beautiful
all creatures
great and small
All things wise and wonderful
The good Lord
made them all.

And Summer is back with Him waiting for you to join her again when the last rose sheds it's petals. My condolences.

Paul and Trish,

So sorry to read about the loss of your pet. As many others here have stated, our pets are more like extensions of our families than just "animals". I, myself an animal lover, have 10 cats and 4 dogs. And I know that a loss of any one of them would make my days just not the same.

Glad to hear that her passing seemed peaceful. And many hugs to the both of you!

Shelly

I am sorry to hear about your loss. This is so sad.
I have an old cat and hope she will keep going.
We just got a stray kitten that looks like your Summer. Hope it will have the same sweet personality.
Olga

While I don't have any cats, I have birds which go along with roses too. :) I can relate as my beloved Parakeet "Sky" died last August. She was a beautiful little sweetheart and I miss her. I was devastated when she died. My heart and prayers go out to you both. Summer is in a much better place now that we can only imagine.

Paul and Trish

So sorry to hear about the sudden loss of Summer. She was part of the family and I will miss her alot.

Her cousins want me to say how sorry they are as well.

Liz

How sad! I remember the cats all draped across the desk in front of the window from the last time I was there at the old nursery. I have 5 cats here, 4 of which were adopted together from the same litter. It is hard to think of any of them not being here - they're a set! I'm glad for Summer that her end came quickly and peacefully - but sorry for you because I know how you will miss Summer, as will her fellow Ashdown cats. ((hugs))

Anne

Paul, I'm so sorry about little Summer. I've had cats for a number of years, and know how they knead themselves into our hearts. One little kitty leaves a big empty place when she's gone.

I'm very sorry for your cat. From the picture she looked like a long-haired calico. Is that true? At least she passed in her sleep and not some worse fate. I have three cats now and may be picking up a fourth depending on a vet assessment of its health. It is either a stray or was dumped. I lost 2 cats previously, and it does leave a hole that never quite gets filled. Each one has a different and distinct personality.

So sorry Paul and Trish. I so love seeing pictures of your kitties. What a beautiful name too!

Pauline

Thank you again for the continuing kind words. She was indeed a long haired calico. Very beautiful cat.

I am so sorry to hear that. I was just at Ashdown (well the retail center) and Roses Unlimited. They have cats there too. It does seem that roses and cats go together.

It is sad losing them and only 7 years old, too soon. I had that experience of finding my 11 year kitty old dying when I woke up and it was traumatic. Hopefully Summer did not suffer at all.

Thank you for sharing of Summers' passing. A cat can be a good freind and a cherished companion. I am truly sorry for your loss.

Luxrosa.

We sing a purr song to honor Summer and your love for her.
Pablo Miguel, Rebecca, Alistair, Gillie, Giddeon, Petite Four, Smokey, Ophelia, Solomon, Tippi, Beau, Amber, Mallory, Min-Nina

Thank you for all of your kind words. I just could not respond any sooner. Everytime I opened this post I cried. Summer was indeed a very special little cat. Her presence on my keyboard is greatly missed. I also want to thank those of you who have emailed us off the board. You have no idea what that means to us.

Trish

Pets are family and their loss is immeasurable. I am so sorry for the loss of your beautiful cat, Summer.

Sorry about you loss Paul. We have 2 cats here that we love very much.

JIm