Plants my cat *loves:* * Dracaena marginata. Maybe because it looks like pet grass? Got it because I thought it might be tall enough to be out of her reach, but she'll stand on the planter and nibble on it! * Peace lilies. She'll nibble on whole leaves! She's eaten so much of it in the 6 months or so that I've had it, it's now smaller than when I bought it :( Plants she hasn't touched yet: * Pachira Aquatica (I've had it for a few weeks/month now). I got a taller version (waist/stomach height), but some of its leaves are still low enough that she can reach, especially with her planter-standing method. However, so far I haven't seen any nibbles! Fingers crossed that she doesn't grow accustomed to its scent or something of the sort and becomes more curious! * Snake plant. I didn't realize this plant was toxic for cats, but thankfully it's always been housed in areas she can't frequent -- in a hard-to-reach spot of a kitchen counter/island (I had it surrounded by cookbooks and my coffee maker) or its current spot at the top of a bookshelf. They don't require loads of light, so it's easier to position these plants somewhere you can enjoy, but your cat can't. * Succulents. I've kept a couple in window sills year-round and she hasn't touched them. Although I don't recommend keeping succulents indoors unless you have super bright Southern sunlight or grow lights. I had an Echeveria Green Goddess that is etiolated slightly from my mostly Southern, slightly Eastern window. I think I'll stick with sedums/Graptopetalum Paraguayense (which I think still look attractive with their sliiiiight legginess) for indoors year-round.

Hi again Dogonit. Beeone tells it like it is- you'll be eating your own corn, tomatoes, even eggplant and sometimes canteloupe. I don't know what the laws are regarding transplanting from the wild, but my own thought is that if done with an eye to conservation it's harmless. Many populations tolerate a little thinning. We've moved a few things -ferns, larkspur, violas (Johnny jump-ups) that have done well, but we were disappointed when a ladyslipper orchid (cypripedium montanum) died out after a couple or three years. We would not have lifted that one except that it was in the way of road construction. Rocky Mountain Wildflowers is a good choice, in my mind. There are others, but the Craigheads know their stuff from long experience. Local nurseries should be good. I lean towards older, funkier outfits. My wife worked for one just west of Helena in the 60's, but the name escapes me. As to the weather, remember there's no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing. Lay in a supply of polypro long johns, fleece jackets and vests, Woolrich and Pendleton shirts, gloves and mitten liners, and a few nice wool sweaters, and, of course, Malone pants (with suspenders, I hope!) for real comfort. Dress in layers so you can customize yourself to the (ever-changing) conditions. Insulated coveralls can make a world of difference when you're ice-fishing on Canyon Ferry or Georgetown Lake in the middle of the night in December. Montana people aren't like those back east because they're rarer. In the east there are so many people they get in the way, and people need to shout to be noticed. In the West there's so few, outside of our little cities, that you tend to be glad to see them when you can, and a whisper can be a shout. At the same time, we tend to value our privacy, and the opportunity to be alone in the hills or on a lake or river somewhere. Sometimes the measure of a good friend is somebody you can be alone with without much talk- so you may run into a peculiar kind of taciturnity. Plus, there's some jerks, too, but that's another story ... Best, M

Or you could trade it in for a fat lazy cat like mine who more often then not finds it not worth while to jump up on the comfy couch so instead opts for the hardwood floor. Getting to the plants is just an unfathomable expenditure of energy that she just doesn't feel like exerting...ever...

I've been trying to stay out of this, but it seems everyone is right and continue to argue. Shavedmonkey is correct that Texas light is not the same as zone 6-7. I know, I moved to Florida from NY. Trust me, you would fry the buds if a Phal got direct sunlight. You'd lose the buds closest to the light. Happened to me, didn't happen in NY. The bottom line, people need to learn to grow any plant in the environment they live. For some, some direct sunlight is good. For others it is destructive. None of this has anything to do with how experienced you are or how much of an expert. I grow my phals under shade cloth. Trying to grow them without shade cloth burned the leaves big time. Forget the buds. I am assuming Texas is similar to my growing situation. It certainly is not the same as growing my phals in NY. I could grow them in a SW window, third row back. My Catts and Dends got the closest position to the window. Phals were in 3rd row and got some direct sun but it was much weaker. When they started to spike and bud, they got moved back further. The spike follows the light and if the buds get strong, direct sunlight they will blast. The OP had a root problem. She bloomed this Phal in the past. Her light sounds good. Her watering and media need to be worked on. That's it! She has figured out how to bloom her plant and that is the reason we all grow these plants. Terp is right, West is right, Shavedmonkey is right. Everone is right. Just drop this ridiculous argument. Its going nowhere and confusing people. Jane