Returning tonight to the place where I first met so many of you who taught me about roses, not least of all, Carol, who introduced me to the stunning Etoile de Hollande that grows over her patio. Carol's ascerbic humor, her great kind heart, and her passion for her pups have always been at the forefront of our friendship. That she is gone from us is surreal. LA, many hugs to you. Sue

I am so sorry to hear about your little kitty, Merryheart. I know how much it hurts to lose a beloved pet. I worry a lot about urinary tract problems in my cat since my best friend lost her cat to it years ago. I think it's fairly prevalent in cats. I feed my cat Purina One 'Urinary Tract' formula. I don't know that it helps, but it makes me feel better, and she likes it. I've made stepping stones for my dogs that have died, and they are nice additions to my garden. I had a pet cemetery at my old house where I planted plants with the same names as my pets. I had grave markers, and stepping stones, and also had a bird bath set up there. For cats I have seen very precious little grave statues that are cat angels. They look very nice in your garden. If you know of a shop that has a laser engraver, they can make a marker with a picture of your cat with her name on a rock, a stepping stone, on granite, glass, or nearly anything. My brother's company has a laser engraver and they sometimes make pet grave markers. Another thing I like to do is plant trees in memory of my dogs that have died. I have a weeping willow that I planted for my all time favorite dog, Star. I hated to leave it when I moved, so I am taking cuttings of that tree to plant at my new house in memory of Star. That sounds crazy, I know, but I can't take the dogs' graves with me but I can take a cutting of "their" memorial tree. I have one tree still in a pot from when my dog Maggie died that I'm going to plant here. It's a corkscrew willow that I call "Maggie's tree". I also have a pine tree I brought here that belonged to my grandmother before she died, and it's "Grandma's tree". I realize you don't have an acreage like I have so maybe don't have enough room to plant a tree for your kitty. But it's my very favorite living memorial I do in memory of my pets. I also have a Southern Bottle Tree I made in memory of my friend Larry when he died. I found the cedar tree in his back yard with all the branches cut off fairly close to the trunk. I have no idea what Larry had planned for it, but I brought it home and "planted" it in my garden to remember him by. Eventually I covered all the limbs with cobalt blue bottles, and made it into a bottle tree. I think it's beautiful. :) But it's still "Larry's Tree" and reminds me of him in my garden. He was a gardener too and I think he would have liked it. I could send you a picture of it if you're interested. Here is a link for a kitty memorial stepping stone. If you'll see the seller's other items further down the page, she has some nice cat memorial items. Again, I'm so sorry for your loss. I know planting a memorial garden for you kitty will help you in your grief. Dawna Here is a link that might be useful: cat memorial stone

Lynne, I love your little grey 'ornament'. LOL. Cats and trees just sort of go together huh? But that is one reason I don't put up a big tree now, I can't imagine the mischief Jazz would get in to. Years past, when kids were at home and I had a big tree, my old cats never ever climbed one. Just lay among the presents and occasionally took lower ornaments off. I'm sure 3 of mine would do that now, but Jazz isn't one of them! My fat cat couldn't get off the ground, and never gets into trouble! Eating is her only exercise in fact. I get such a kick out of Christmas photos with cats in trees and laying in the middle of a Village! Funny as long as its not mine I guess. LOL. hugs, Karen

Glenda, I'm just a bit north of Jackson, TN. I know there are several folks on the gardening forums that live close to me but I've not met any of them. I think Robin is the closest one to me and she's two hours away. I'd love to have lunch but it involves me taking an entire day off work. Just not possible for a while! I'll keep it in mind though! You all are such fun people!