I moved up the Nipper thread. Do you see your reference to your beloved Oscar? I remember Mary - nota contessa - and PV had lost their pets and that Storygardener's cat, Bandit, had gone through some nasty kidney problems. Seems there were some more folks suffering too. Maybe reading this thread will help. It made me cry. Gotta, go and play with Max and Maggie in the garden. Can't take them for granted after an emtional moment like this. Give Murphy a big squeeze!

Natrgrl33, I completely understand your sadness, as well as your need for support. Just this morning, I found a snake in a box that had three healthy babies last night. Today, all three are dead, and oddly enough, not eaten by the snake. So while I don't know exactly what happened, I do know that it breaks my heart. Were I to try to explain my feelings to some people, they just wouldn't get it. It sounds to me like you went above and beyond trying to protect the mother- losing sleep to protect the nest from the cat. Years ago I witnessed a cat who managed to get on top of the box (also 5' off the ground) and kill the mother. We then created a baffle out of wire fencing and electrified it. That cat was never successful again with that nest box. As I walked away from the box with the dead babies this morning, I simply said "God, I don't know what happened here and why these babies had to die, but my trust remains in You." I have taken the box down and it will remain down until I rethink what I can do (if anything) to make it safer for the bluebirds. Sometimes, bad things just happen, and it's no ones' fault. Focus on the joy the bluebirds have given you in the past three years. I have maintained a bluebird trail for over 25 years, and have had so many wonderful moments observing them. I'll never forget the time I sat in a chair for three hours and was rewarded with witnessing the fledging of a box full of babies. Happier and successful times will come for you, too. Hugs!

You can grow trees as large as you want as long as you use a good/proper mix...It seems that you transplanted every spring and root pruned which could account for the reason why your trees did so well....Once a mix decays and compresses and then the root pruning is left out, it just goes to show us how quickly a tree can decline... Keith, that is why I love using very porous mixes with mine because I can go for more than a year in any size pot using the 5.1.1 or gritty mixes...I don't have to worry about root rot or growing in plastic or clay... It's funny you should day clay is best..You are right..If you plan on keeping the pots warm and if you are heavy handed with the watering can..... The downside can be that If clay pots are left out in the cold and your citrus hate cold roots, especially the infamous Lemon Meyer, they will perform poorly..You were smart to bring them in every year when you did and keep them warm. They are best for aeration because they are permeable, they allow air exchange that plastic will not do, and best for removing salt deposits which is why you will see them turn white with use of tap water and fertilizers which plastic does not allow...In fact if I did not leave my citrus outside for so long into the season when it gets below 60,, I would grow all of mine in them! My gardenia will only grow very well in clay, even when using very porous mixes..By the way, a pot with a thousand holes in it mixed with a highly water retentive mix will not prevent perched water in it, it will just drain faster leaving the same perched water behind.. .Also too there are many that will tell you not to be to concerned with mites, but I beg to differ..If left unchecked, they can kill a tree of 100 years within weeks...So the lack of root pruning, lack of fresh open mix that is forgiving in the water and decomposition dept., and lack of time attending to your trees did them in..Lesson learned and thanks for sharing) I love the fact you have so many other things growing..Please share a pic...Would love that..

Karen, the other day you wrote such an uplifting and motivational comment for another GW member who is currently facing life difficulties that I actually bookmarked it as a reminder if I ever face the similar situation (we all do). I had no idea that you had the strength to write it in this terrible time of your own personal loss. My heartfelt condolences. Your approach to your garden as a healing place and to gardening as a healing process is touching and inspirational. There is the tranquility in your beautiful place that I am sure your beloved kitties and your mom feel both from near in this lovely garden and from afar in heaven.